HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed in each of the last five years; and how many and what proportion of such procedures were performed (a) to save the life of the mother and (b) in cases of rape.

Jane Ellison: The number of abortions performed under ground A (section 1(1)(c) of the 1967 Abortion Act, the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated) and under ground F (section 1(4), to save the life of the pregnant women) for 2009-13, resident in England and Wales is shown in the following table.
	Information about abortions due to rape is not collected by the Department.
	
		
			  Ground   
			  A F Ground A and F as a proportion of all grounds abortions (%) Total number of abortions (all grounds) 
			 2009 56 0 Less than 0.1 189,100 
			 2010 41 0 Less than 0.1 189,574 
			 2011 45 1 Less than 0.1 189,931 
			 2012 60 0 Less than 0.1 185,122 
			 2013 56 0 Less than 0.1 185,331

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated since May 2011 on (i) the earliest point in its development of an unborn child will experience pain, (ii) the earliest gestational age at which an unborn child may be capable of being born alive, (iii) the number of occasions when an unborn baby is wrongly diagnosed as being handicapped and is subsequently born without disability or handicap and (iv) the suicide rate among women who have had an abortion; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department has not commissioned or evaluated any research on fetal pain since May 2011.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women who had an abortion in 2013 were married at the time of the abortion; what the modal (a) age of the women, (b) length gestation of the pregnancy, (c) number of previous children born to the women and (d) number of previous abortions undergone by the women was; and what the most common legal grounds was under which such abortions were performed.

Jane Ellison: The number of abortions for married women or women in a civil partnership, resident in England and Wales, 2013 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of all abortions (%) Modal age (years) Modal gestation (weeks) Modal previous births1 Modal previous abortions2 Most common ground 
			 Married/civil partnership 16 33 6 2 0 C 
			 1 Number of previous livebirths and stillbirths over 24 weeks. 2 Number of previous legal terminations.

Abortion: Scotland

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women resident in Scotland have had a late termination after 20 weeks which took place in England in each of the last 10 years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: Women resident in Scotland, who had an abortion in England or Wales, by gestation 2004-13 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Gestation 20 + weeks 
			 2004 77 
			 2005 83 
			 2006 91 
			 2007 108 
			 2008 92 
			 2009 86 
			 2010 83 
			 2011 100 
			 2012 83 
			 2013 75

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and over were admitted to hospital with a condition related to alcohol misuse in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: The following table contains the sum of the estimated alcohol attributable fractions (AAFs) for admissions for patients aged (a) 0-17 years and (b) 18 years and over for the years 2010-11 to 2012-13.
	It should be noted that these figures are not a count of people and represent an estimated number of admissions that were attributable to alcohol.
	AAFs are based on the proportion of a given diagnosis or injury that is estimated to be attributed to alcohol. Some diagnoses or injuries will, by definition, be wholly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF of one, others will only be partly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF greater than zero, but less than one. Diagnoses or injuries that are not attributable at all to alcohol will have an AAF of zero.
	These figures are derived by summing all AAFs for the relevant admissions and should, therefore only be interpreted as an estimate of the number of admissions that can be attributed to alcohol.
	In addition, partial AAFs are not applicable to children aged under 16 years, therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions.
	The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care-Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2014 report manually implemented new methodology against the 2012-13 data in their report. However, no change to the underlying Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data has been currently made.
	
		
			 Sum of partial and wholly alcohol attributable fractions for finished admission episodes (FAEs)1, for patients aged (a) 0-17 years and (b) 18 years and over, 2010-11 to 2012-132 
			 0-17 years Sum of alcohol Attributable fractions (FAEs)1 Sum of partial alcohol Attributable fractions (FAEs)1 Total 
			 2010-11 6,143 6,188.39 12,331.39 
			 2011-12 5,230 6,075.52 11,305.52 
			 2012-13 4,360 5,712 10,072.68 
		
	
	
		
			 18 years and over Sum of alcohol Attributable fractions (FAEs)1 Sum of partial alcohol Attributable fractions (FAEs)1 Total 
			 2010-11 281,055 874,879.17 1,155,934.17 
			 2011-12 298,976 910,011.88 1,208,987.88 
			 2012-13 290,426 931,964.95 1,222,390.95 
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 1 Alcohol–related admissions The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at: www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The alcohol attributable fraction is set to 1 (100%) where the admission is considered to be entirely due to alcohol, eg in the case of alcoholic liver disease-these records are described as wholly alcohol attributable. The alcohol attributable fraction is set to a value greater than 0 but less than 1 according to the NWPHO definition, eg the alcohol fraction of an admission with a primary diagnosis of C00 - malignant neoplasm of lip, where the patient is male and between 65 and 74 is 0.44-these records are described as partly alcohol attributable. These wholly and partly attributable fractions can be aggregated to supply an estimate of activity which can be considered wholly or partly attributable to alcohol. Partly alcohol attributable fractions are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one. 2 Assessing growth through time (Inpatients) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care

Allergies: Children

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on diagnosing food allergy in children and young people in a primary care and unit setting are adhered to by general practitioners.

Daniel Poulter: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline, Food allergy in children and young people, published in 2011, sets out best practice on the care treatment and support for children and young people with food allergy. NICE clinical guidelines are designed to support healthcare professionals in their work, but they do not replace their knowledge and skills and experience in deciding how best to manage patients.

Asthma

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that national guidelines on asthma care are implemented; what data his Department is gathering to improve asthma care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is taking a number of actions to improve the care and management of people with asthma.
	It is supporting clinical commissioning groups to improve out of hospital treatment for those with asthma by giving doctors more control over the commissioning of asthma services and improving information links between general practitioners and hospitals. The implementation of the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) asthma quality standard, which sets out what good quality care looks like, will also raise the standard of care people with asthma receive.
	The National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, Professor Mike Morgan, is responsible for working across all five domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework in NHS England in tackling asthma issues, and Dr Jacqueline Cornish, the National Clinical Director for children, young people and transition to adulthood, is working with the Strategic Clinical Networks for maternity, neonates and children and young people, to improve clinical outcomes for children and young people with asthma. NHS England also continues to work with Asthma UK and professional groups in both primary and secondary care to improve outcomes for all those with asthma. It is also working to ensure that everyone with a long-term condition is offered a personalised care plan and an asthma action plan should form part of that.
	In terms of data collection on asthma, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership is considering with NHS England, a national clinical audit of asthma services across the country against NICE quality standards for asthma.

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 241W, on billing, what the value was of all outstanding legacy creditors on 1 June 2014.

Daniel Poulter: As at 1 June 2014, the value of outstanding legacy creditors was £3,237,153.15.
	Following the abolition of primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) on 31 March 2013, legacy PCT and SHA finance teams remained in place until 31 August 2013 to process creditor payments relating to pre 1 April 2013. Creditor payments outstanding at 31 August 2013 were transferred to successor organisations, including the Department. The above amount remains outstanding because of due diligence taking place on creditor payments in order to mitigate the risk of making fraudulent or duplicate payments.

Care Homes

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many calls to 999 were made by or on behalf of residents of care homes in each of the last four years;
	(2)  how many residents of care homes presented at accident and emergency departments in England in each of the last four years;
	(3)  how many residents of care homes had an emergency admission to a hospital in England in each of the last four years.

Norman Lamb: Information is not held centrally on the number of calls to 999 made by or on behalf of residents of care homes, or the number of residents of care homes attending accident and emergency departments.
	Information on the number of residents of care homes who had an emergency admission to a hospital in each of the last four years shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of finished admission episodes for emergency admissions by source of admission in England, 2009-10 to 2012-13 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 NHS run care home (from 1 April 2004) 3,428 3,396 3,086 3,538 
			 Non-NHS (other than local authority) run care home 10,965 10,510 11,806 15,158 
			 All sources of admission 5,177,887 5,287,032 5,242,839 5,336,043 
			 Notes: 1. Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 2. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 3. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage, improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. 4. FAEs recorded as “The usual place of residence, including no fixed abode” may contain a number of episodes where patients may have resided in care homes, subsequently designating it as their usual place of residence. Such FAEs were not recorded as admissions from a care home. The number of times this may have occurred is unknown. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department’s Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries.

Daniel Poulter: The Department, its Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies as listed below, hold no contracts with Educational Testing Services or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries.
	(i) Executive agencies:
	Public Health England, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
	(ii) Non-departmental public bodies:
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Human Tissue Authority, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS England, Monitor, Care Quality Commission and Health and Social Care Information Centre

General Practitioners

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time general practitioners there were in each of the last 15 years for which figures are available.

Daniel Poulter: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 All GPs 
			  Full-time equivalent: 
			  Less than 1.0 Greater than or equal to 1.0 
			 1999 6,432 24,527 
			 2000 6,963 24,406 
			 2001 7,402 24,433 
			 2002 7,913 24,379 
			 2003 8,687 24,877 
			 2004 9,077 25,778 
			 2005 9,690 26,254 
			 20061 6,548 29,460 
			 20071 6,915 29,505 
			 20081 8,940 28,780 
			 20091 10,268 30,001 
			 20101, 2 11,364 28,045 
			 20111, 2 12,505 27,275 
			 20121, 2 12,843 27,422 
			 20131, 2 11,464 28,772 
			 1 There is no definition of what constitutes part-time working on the latest GP contract, figures provided indicates GPs with a full-time equivalent (FTE) greater than or equal to 1. Data as at 30 September for each year except 1999 as at 1 October. FTE calculations on the GP census are based on an FTE of 1.0 being 37.5 hours a week. For 1999 to 2003 contracted GPs—full time 1.00 FTE; three quarter time 0.69 FTE; job share 0.65 FTE; and half time 0.60 FTE; other GP types—full time 1.00 FTE; part time 0.6 FTE. For 2004-05 all GPs—full Time 1.0 FTE; part time 0.6 FTE. For 2006-13 FTE figures have been collected based on the number of sessions, hours or percentage each GP works. Therefore time series data may not be fully comparable with data from before 2006. 2 The new headcount methodology from 2010 onwards means this data is not fully comparable with previous years, due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the census publication. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. FTE figures prior to 2010 are categorised based on the FTE attributed to each contract, in line with the headcount methodology at that time. 2010-13 data has been calculated using the sum of the FTE for each individual person, as per the latest headcount methodology.

General Practitioners

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for appointments at GP surgeries.

Daniel Poulter: The Government recognises the importance of timely access to general practice. The Prime Minister's Challenge Fund has allocated £50 million to pilot ways to improve access around the country, to give general practitioners (GPs) the flexibility to meet the needs of the local population. These pilots will benefit more than 7.5 million patients across more than 1,110 practices.
	In addition, changes to the GP contract in April 2014 introduced a new Enhanced Service, which includes a commitment to same day telephone consultations with a professional in the GP surgery, where necessary, for the most at risk in the population.

General Practitioners: Rural Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rural GP surgeries have fewer than 1,000 patients registered.

Daniel Poulter: The requested information is not collected centrally in the requested format. There were 45 general practitioner practices in England on 30 September 2013 with less than 1,000 patients registered to them. The Health and Social Care Information Centre does not hold data on whether the practices are rural or not.
	Source:
	The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Practitioners: South Lakeland

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the additional need weighting is for each GP surgery in South Lakeland.

Daniel Poulter: The following table shows the additional needs index for each general practitioner practice in South Lakeland.
	Where the index is less than one this indicates lower than England average additional needs. Where the index is greater than one this indicates higher than average additional needs.
	
		
			 Practice Code Practice Additional Needs Index 
			 A82003 0.9863 
			 A82005 0.81571 
			 A82025 0.93523 
			 A82026 0.91203 
			 A82027 0.9263 
			 A82030 0.86907 
			 A82034 0.89396 
			 A82046 0.92707 
			 A82053 0.8634 
			 A82065 0.88653 
			 A82068 0.98944 
			 A82070 0.92887 
			 A82074 0.86022 
			 A82608 0.80922 
			 A82613 0.76383 
			 A82642 0.86707 
			 A82647 0.89642 
			 A82650 0.87866 
			 P81113 0.92853 
			 Note: The table includes additional needs index from the Carr-Hill Formula. Source: NHS England and Health and Social Care Information Centre

Health Professions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Batley and Spen, of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 664W, on health professions, whether the robust evidence-based cost-benefit risk analysis on the regulation of unregulated healthcare professionals has been undertaken by his Department; and whether he plans to publish that analysis and its conclusions.

Daniel Poulter: The Government has set out its position on statutory regulation of health care professionals in the publication “Enabling Excellence Command Paper—Autonomy and Accountability for Healthcare Workers, Social Workers and Social Care Workers”,published February 2011. Statutory regulation will only be considered where there is a solid body of evidence demonstrating that there is a level of risk to the public which warrants the costs imposed by statutory regulation, and which cannot be addressed through assured voluntary registration. No cost-benefit risk analysis of the case for introducing compulsory statutory regulation of the health care scientist work force is now planned by the Department at this time.
	Modernising Scientific Careers has put in place standardised and accredited education and training programmes for the health care science work force that enables formalised regulation, whether voluntary or statutory. For those health care scientists not regulated by statute, the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) holds a voluntary ‘shadow’ register and we understand that the AHCS intend to seek accreditation from the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.

Heart Diseases

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the availability of free prescriptions for congenital heart disease across England;
	(2)  what the chronic conditions that (a) do and (b) do not qualify for free prescriptions.

Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of the availability of free prescriptions for people with congenital heart disease in England.
	The list of medical conditions that give entitlement to apply for an NHS prescription charge medical exemption certificate are:
	a permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy, or ileostomy) which requires continuous surgical dressing or requires an appliance;
	forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison’s disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential;
	diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism;
	diabetes mellitus (except where treatment of the diabetes is by diet alone);
	hypoparathyroidism;
	myasthenia gravis;
	myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement);
	epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
	continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving their residence without the help of another person; and
	patients undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment.
	All other medical conditions do not entitle patients to apply for an NHS prescription charge medical exemption certificate.
	The extensive system of exemption arrangements, including for those on low incomes who may struggle to pay for their prescriptions, which is in place means that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge. Prescription prepayment certificates are also available for those who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions.

Heart Diseases

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the efficacy and potential cost-savings to the NHS of self-monitoring machines for blood testing for sufferers of congenital heart disease;
	(2)  how many (a) adults and (b) children in each region and constituent part of the UK suffer from congenital heart disease.

Jane Ellison: The Department has made no assessment of the efficacy and potential cost-savings to the national health service of self-monitoring machines for blood testing for sufferers of congenital heart disease.
	Under its diagnostics assessment programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is developing guidance on two diagnostic technologies for patients on anticoagulation treatments to self-monitor their coagulation status. We understand that NICE expects to issue guidance in August 2014.
	Information is not collected centrally on the number of adults and children in the United Kingdom who suffer from congenital heart disease.

Liver Diseases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he or other Ministers of his Department have visited a liver unit since taking office.

Daniel Poulter: Since May 2010, the following visits were undertaken by Ministers in the Department to liver units.
	23 November 2010: Anne Milton, King’s College Hospital. Tour of our Haematology and Liver Transplantation departments.
	13 January 2011: Mr Andrew Lansley, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Tour of Liver Intensive Therapy Unit (LITU) on Cheyne Wing
	Since May 2010, the following visits were undertaken by Ministers in the Department to alcohol dependency units that also specialise in liver treatment.
	16 December 2010: Anne Milton, Hope House in Clapham (Drugs/alcohol dependency)
	21 July 2011: Earl Howe, Royal Bolton Hospital (alcohol dependency)
	1 March 2012: Mr Andrew Lansley, The Carpenters Arms (rehabilitation charity for alcohol and drugs)
	25 October 2012: Anna Soubry, Bristol Tranquiliser Project (drugs/alcohol dependency)
	29 March 2012: Earl Howe, Mossley Hill Hospital (alcohol dependency treatment centre)
	24 January 2013: Anna Soubry, Mount Carmel (charity) (alcohol treatment centre)
	6 June 2013: Dr Daniel Poulter, Brighton Housing Trust (meeting community alcohol NHS team)
	13 February 2014: Dr Daniel Poulter, The Habour centre, alcohol and drug service, Plymouth.

Liver Diseases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs to the NHS of untreated liver disease in one person.

Jane Ellison: The Department has made no recent assessment of the costs to the national health service of untreated liver disease.

Liver Diseases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged (a) under 10 and (b) 10 years and over were admitted to hospital with a (i) primary and (ii) secondary diagnosis of liver disease in each year since 1997.

Daniel Poulter: The following tables give the number of finished admission episodes for children aged (a) under 10 years and (b) 10-17years,who were admitted to hospital with a (i) primary and (ii) secondary diagnosis of liver disease from 1997-98 to 2012-13.
	
		
			 Children aged under 10 years 
			  Primary diagnosis Secondary diagnosis 
			  Direct Hepatitis-related Cancer-related Other Direct Hepatitis-related Cancer-related Other 
			 1997-98 289 145 254 173 476 60 52 133 
			 1998-99 289 122 260 145 475 47 44 158 
			 1999-2000 266 181 188 145 493 33 19 183 
			 2000-01 226 113 251 122 423 37 58 136 
			 2001-02 219 115 458 138 498 29 103 155 
			 2002-03 254 115 460 150 443 42 108 100 
			 2003-04 221 113 340 141 502 45 49 168 
			 2004-05 243 93 366 153 601 41 54 213 
			 2005-06 241 49 340 159 721 53 53 169 
			 2006-07 250 94 433 176 794 103 62 190 
			 2007-08 297 103 463 194 835 54 58 190 
			 2008-09 316 128 308 220 943 23 60 239 
			 2009-10 329 77 322 327 1,129 34 64 319 
			 2010-11 356 107 275 268 1,051 45 70 358 
			 2011-12 377 103 393 288 1,322 37 128 341 
			 2012-13 346 112 423 248 1,393 34 117 353 
		
	
	
		
			 Children aged between 10 and 17 
			  Primary diagnosis Secondary diagnosis 
			  Direct Hepatitis-related Cancer-related Other Direct Hepatitis-related Cancer-related Other 
			 1997-98 197 143 54 104 322 95 4 78 
			 1998-99 276 94 98 92 352 84 5 117 
			 1999-2000 254 150 55 119 412 85 12 165 
			 2000-01 265 123 80 85 452 94 23 96 
			 2001-02 309 103 100 101 532 64 23 169 
			 2002-03 334 122 100 102 525 61 82 182 
		
	
	
		
			 2003-04 420 105 75 114 564 86 16 211 
			 2004-05 373 98 83 94 644 61 9 166 
			 2005-06 401 71 152 103 699 87 13 218 
			 2006-07 423 119 129 121 741 83 10 292 
			 2007-08 322 96 141 106 779 133 33 274 
			 2008-09 360 114 111 143 809 134 24 271 
			 2009-10 406 95 99 159 889 106 30 338 
			 2010-11 500 99 64 171 1,143 123 26 396 
			 2011-12 387 112 137 138 1,376 89 44 409 
			 2012-13 417 140 60 125 1,373 139 19 234 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Medicine: Education

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on negotiations between Health Education England and university providers of undergraduate health education courses for health allied professional staff regarding the benchmark price for the 2014-15 academic year.

Daniel Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) has been responsible for commissioning undergraduate pre-registration courses from higher education institutions since it was established in April 2013. A national benchmark price has been used as the basis for payments for many of these courses for over 10 years. The price covers a number of healthcare professions, including the allied health professions.
	The latest agreement on the level of the benchmark price has recently expired and HEE is negotiating a revised price with Universities UK. These negotiations continue and a further meeting is planned between both parties in July. HEE would like to introduce commissioning agreements based on the new price from September.

Medicine: Education

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on negotiations in respect of the National Framework Contract between Health Education England and university providers of undergraduate health education courses for the health-allied professions.

Daniel Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for commissioning undergraduate pre-registration courses from higher education institutions (HEIs).
	To provide a national framework for this important function, HEE is working with Universities UK (UUK) to revise the existing national standard contract. The revised model contract aims to achieve consistency across the country and to ensure that HEIs are delivering education and training that will result in the right number of graduates with the correct skills and aptitude to provide safe and compassionate care. It will also allow for the streamlining of reporting to reduce the administrative burden for HEE and the HEIs. The new model contract will apply to all health care professions, including the allied health professions.
	HEE and UUK are continuing to agree the detail of the new model contract and HEE hope to have a revised model contract in place for roll out in the autumn and implementation beginning in April 2015.

Mental Health Services: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much in real terms was spent on children's mental health services in each year for which data is available.

Norman Lamb: The aggregated national health service spend on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in England for 2006-07 to 2012-13 is set out in the following table. This has been calculated from the actual programme budget spend and is in 2012-13 prices, rounded to the nearest £ million.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 2006-07 706 
			 2007-08 700 
			 2008-09 746 
			 2009-10 758 
			 2010-11 739 
			 2011-12 723 
			 2012-13 700 
		
	
	However, this does not include:
	spend by local authorities, including children’s services and schools’ expenditure on early intervention or emotional resilience programmes.
	£54 million invested by the Department over the four years from 2011-12 to 2014-15 in the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

NHS England

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of staff and at what grades work for the National Clinical Director for Cancer.

Jane Ellison: The National Clinical Director (NCD) for Cancer is seconded to NHS England as a senior clinical advisor on cancer. The work of the NCD is supported through a number of NHS England's priority programmes, including the Prevention and Early Diagnosis programme, the long-term conditions, Older People, and End of life Care programme. In addition, there are a number of relevant clinical reference groups and other staff supporting specialised commissioning functions who are also aligned with the work of the NCD.
	The NCD is not an executive post within NHS England and does not directly line manage any NHS England employees.

Nurses and Midwives

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the extent of plans of health providers to recruit nurses and midwives from overseas in the 2014-15 academic year; and how many such nurses and midwives he anticipates will be recruited.

Daniel Poulter: The international recruitment of nurses and midwives is a matter for local employers. They have indicated a higher need for nurses now than they had previously planned, with a particular peak in demand over the next couple of years. Some local trusts are recruiting internationally in an attempt to fill this short term demand.
	It is not for the Government but for local hospitals to decide how many staff they employ and they are best placed to do this based on the needs of their patients and local communities.
	On 24 June, NHS England published nurse, midwife and care staffing levels on a patient safety website, NHS Choices. Publishing staffing data at a national level was a key commitment following the Mid Staffordshire public inquiry and is a major step forward in the Government’s drive to make the national health service the safest health care in the world.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Daniel Poulter: Information on overall ratings for performance management for all departmental staff is currently being collated. Once collated, it will be cleared by the Permanent Secretary and ratings will be communicated to staff. Once this is complete the Department will be in a position to respond to the detailed elements of this query.
	It is expected that this will be during the week commencing 14 July 2014.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 7 May 2014, Official Report, column 244W, on prescriptions: fees and charges, what the cost was of administering prescription charges in each of the last 10 years.

Norman Lamb: The following table provides an estimate of direct and overhead costs for the administration of prescription pre-payment certificates, maternity exemption certificates and medical exemption certificates in England for the last eight financial years. These costs are the only elements of the prescription charging system that can be separately identified. Information prior to 2006-07 is not retained by the NHS Business Services Authority.
	
		
			 NHS prescription charge administrative process from 2006-07 to 2013-14 
			  Prescription pre-payment certificates, Maternity exemption certificates and Medical exemption certificates (£000s) 
			 2006-07 3,318 
			 2007-08 3,807 
			 2008-09 3,889 
			 2009-10 4,586 
			 2010-11 4,480 
			 2011-12 4,941 
			 2012-13 4,988 
			 2013-14 5,366 
			 Source: NHS Business Services Authority costing model

Telemedicine

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of people who received telehealth and telecare services in each of the last four years.

Norman Lamb: NHS England does not currently collect data about the number of people receiving telehealth or telecare services. The latest information held is from the Telehealth Services Association (TSA), which is the industry body for telehealth and telecare. In 2011 the TSA stated that in 2011 there were an estimated 1.37 million telehealth, telecare and telecoaching connections in England.
	NHS England is establishing a regular survey to gather data on the number of individuals who benefit from telehealth and telecare, and is also developing a set of consistent measures for commissioners which will be more meaningful and demonstrate the impact of these technologies on health outcomes.
	NHS England recognises the potential of these technologies to empower patients to take greater control over their conditions and provide care that is convenient, accessible and cost-effective.
	The ambition is to create the right commissioning environment that supports and encourages the use of technology that can improve care and outcomes for patients.

Thalidomide

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of reports by disability campaigners that the German Government was complicit in preventing British victims of thalidomide from securing compensation from Grünenthal; and if he will make representations to his German counterpart on that matter.

Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of the German Government’s role in relation to British Thalidomide survivors and the issue of compensation from the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal.
	I met with the Thalidomide Trust on 23 June 2014. We are considering further what representations we might make in the light of this meeting. A further meeting between the Thalidomide Trust and the Minister for Europe is due to take place on 3 September.

Tobacco: Packaging

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations or individuals Ministers or officials of his Department have met to discuss standardised packaging of tobacco in the last 12 months; which Ministers or officials were present at those meetings; and who represented each organisation present at those meetings.

Jane Ellison: Details of ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the Gov.UK website at:
	www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-2013#department-of-health-dh
	The Department does not keep a central diary of the engagements that every Departmental official has had. In discharging their official duties, Ministers, special advisors and departmental officials meet with representatives from a range of organisations.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by the Law Officers' Departments received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Oliver Heald: It is not possible to provide figures for all the Law Officers' Departments as their staff performance appraisal processes for 2013-14 have yet to be completed. Figures should be available in the autumn.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many directors of companies were disqualified as a result of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office in (a) 2012-13 and (b) each of the five preceding years.

Oliver Heald: The number of directors of companies disqualified on conviction following prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of company directors disqualified 
			 2012-13 5 
			 2011-12 18 
			 2010-11 6 
			 2009-10 8 
			 2008-09 22 
		
	
	Data prior to 2008 is not collated centrally and it is not possible to provide the information requested without incurring a disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the consultation on the newly proposed compensation scheme for High Speed 2 (Phase 1) will (a) begin and (b) end.

Robert Goodwill: The timings for the consultation on the Alternative Cash Offer to the Voluntary Purchase Scheme and the Home Owner Payment will be announced shortly.

Motorways: Accidents

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigation his Department plans to undertake into the causes of the increase in motorway deaths from 2012 to 2013.

Robert Goodwill: The Highways Agency will be undertaking a review of the recently published data for 2013 to identify any trends or causation factors that may help to determine what improvements can be made to reduce deaths on the agency's motorway network in England. Motorways in Scotland and Wales are a devolved matter and not for the Department for Transport to lead on.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and consists of a central Department and five executive agencies as follows:
	Highways Agency (HA)
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
	Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
	Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
	This response covers both the central Department and our five executive agencies. The Department employs 17,200 people. Information for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Vehicle Certification Agency is not yet available. Information on the centre and other executive agencies is shown as follows. Percentages have been rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.
	
		
			 DfTc 
			 Percentage 
			  Non-Disabled Disabled Disability Unknown/Prefer not to say 
			 Box 1 25 16 26 
			 Box 2 66 69 62 
			 Box 3 8 16 12 
		
	
	
		
			 DVLA 
			 Percentage 
			 Performance Score (points) Non-Disabled Disabled Disability Unknown/Prefer not to say 
			 Below 70 57 29 13 
			 70 to 79 61 22 17 
			 80 to 89 58 22 20 
			 90 to 99 61 20 19 
			 100 to 109 73 14 14 
			 110 to 120 74 13 13 
		
	
	In 2013-14, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) did not apply the same performance management process as the rest of the Department. Performance in 2013-14 was based on points and not box markings. The minimum score required to be eligible to receive a performance related pay award was 70 points. Those scoring below 70 points received no award. The maximum score attainable was 120 points.
	Of the staff issued a full appraisal in 2013-14, a performance score is currently available for 93% of people. The breakdown of these reports is shown above.
	
		
			 Highways 
			 Percentage 
			  Non-Disabled Disabled Disability Unknown/Prefer not to say 
			 Box 1 11 7 n/a 
			 Box 2 65 67 n/a 
			 Box 3 5 8 n/a 
			 Box 4 0.3 1 n/a 
			 Not Selected 20 18 n/a 
		
	
	Please note that the HA has a 4 box marking system. Boxes 2 and 3 and the traditional box 2 but broken in two parts to illustrated high box 2 and low box 2. “Not selected” refers to staff who opted for different terms of employment and are not covered by this performance marking scheme.
	
		
			 MCA 
			 Percentage 
			  Non Disabled Disabled Disability Unknown/Prefer not to say 
			 Box 1 21 18 15 
			 Box 2 68 72 58 
			 Box 3 11 10 27

Railways: North of England

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the upgrade of the Manchester-Leeds-York railway line will begin; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The upgrade referred to is included in the “North of England Programme”. This work has already begun. The programme will enhance key northern routes and provide benefits across the north of England, with over £1 billion being invested over the next five years (2014-19). Manchester—Leeds—York electrification was announced in November 2011 as part of the wider North TransPennine Electrification Scheme. This electrification scheme forms part of the North of England Programme. Key rail routes will be electrified across the north to make journeys faster, quicker and more reliable, improving journey times and the passenger experience.
	Work has already started, and the first phase of the TransPennine route (from Manchester to Stalybridge) is planned to be electrified by December 2016. To the east of Stalybridge, works are currently being planned to deliver a fully electrified route between Manchester, Leeds and York.
	Once complete, this significant infrastructure improvement will link up with the already electrified lines at Leeds and York. Further information can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-approves-major-infrastructure-works
	http://www.networkrail.co.uk/North_West_electrification.aspx

Railways: North of England

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the effect will be on the transpennine community of the upgrade of train lines on the Manchester-Leeds-York railway line.

Stephen Hammond: The transpennine community will benefit in better journeys, improved connections and more modern trains from the Government’s £1 billion investment in the rail network in the north of England. The Government is considering how the next Northern and TransPennine Express franchises starting in 2016 can best make use of this investment; and is currently, jointly with the Rail North consortium, seeking the views of passengers and communities on the improvements they want to see in a public consultation.

Rescue Services

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department took over responsibility for long-range search and rescue at sea when the Ministry of Defence abandoned its acquisition of Nimrod aircraft.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport and its predecessor organisations have held the responsibility for maritime and civil aeronautical search and rescue since the Convention for International Civil Aviation and the International Maritime Search and Rescue Convention came into force in 1944 and 1979 respectively. The Department for Transport will work closely with other Government Departments on search and rescue matters where it is appropriate to do so.

Rescue Services

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to acquire aircraft to carry out long range search and rescue at sea; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport uses its own search and rescue helicopters and those of the military to provide search and rescue today. The Department for Transport will also draw upon other resources including other military assets and assets from neighbouring states under long established arrangements for international cooperation. The Convention of the High Seas also enables the Department to divert merchant ships to provide assistance to those in distress where it is reasonable to do so.

Rescue Services

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's responsibility is for long range search and rescue at sea.

Stephen Hammond: The UK’s responsibilities for search and rescue are set out in Annex 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the Maritime Search and Rescue Convention. The Convention of the High Seas and the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea are also relevant. All four Conventions ask that the Department for Transport establish arrangements for search and rescue in the United Kingdom’s Search and Rescue Region and formalises international co-operation with neighbouring states by agreeing common response plans and the sharing of resources. The Conventions also compel ships’ masters to render assistance to those in distress at sea. The UK’s responsibility for search and rescue responsibilities extends out to 30º west in latitude and covers some 1 million square miles. The Department for Transport discharges this responsibility on behalf of the Government.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with trade union representatives from the maritime sector on the employment and related implications of implementing the maritime fuel sulphur regulations in the last 12 months;
	(2)  whether he has commissioned or received any (a) internal or (b) external reports on the effectiveness of sulphur technology on maritime vessels;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 536W, on shipping: exhaust emissions, what discussions his officials have had with the European Commission on securing EU finance to assist shipowners and ports to comply with the new sulphur regulation limits;
	(4)  pursuant to his comments of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 127WH, on sulphur regulations, whether he has (a) commissioned and (b) received any specific assessment of the potential effect on diesel prices in the UK as a result of implementation of the new sulphur regulation limits;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 536W, on shipping: exhaust emissions, whether he intends to have a UK review of the effect of the new sulphur regulation limits before 2019.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has not had discussions with the trade unions specifically on the implementation of the sulphur rules. However, the trade unions have had the opportunity to contribute their views during the eight-week public consultation on the draft UK Regulations and the associated Impact Assessment which commenced on 29 April 2014.
	The maturity and efficacy of ship-board exhaust gas cleaning system technology was one of the key subjects under consideration when I chaired the ‘round table’ meetings of industry stakeholders in October 2012 and March 2013 to which I referred in my answer of 17 June 2014. At those meetings, first-hand information was forthcoming from both the shipping industry and the exhaust gas cleaning system technology industry.
	The Department has engaged the European Commission about the potential impacts of the new regulations and the scope for financial support from EU sources, including finance from the European Investment Bank. The Commission has reaffirmed the possibility of support for the maritime sector through the new Connecting Europe Facility or the Trans-European Network (TEN-T) programme.
	The Department is investigating impacts on prices as part of its assessment of the impact of the draft UK Regulations.
	The Department will conduct the review at an appropriate time and not later than the timetable specified in the Regulations themselves, in accordance with normal Government practice and consistent with the principles of better regulation. It would be premature to make a commitment now concerning the precise timing of the review.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which external consultants were involved in the design of the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd; and what the cost to his Department was in each case.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport ran a procurement for legal, technical and financial advisers for the InterCity West Coast Direct Award project. The advisers contracted, and the estimated fees to be paid for the work on the project, are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Advisers Estimated fees (£) 
			 Legal advisers Addleshaw Goddard 204,960 
			 Technical advisers TRL-Halcrow 227,607 
			 Financial advisers PwC 264,467

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will confirm the legal protections for existing collective bargaining agreements between recognised trade unions and West Coast Trains Ltd for the period of the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to the employer on 19 June and coming into effect on 22 June 2014.

Stephen Hammond: As there has been no change of employer under this direct award, our expectation is that the status of contracts, collective bargaining agreements and legal protections are unchanged. However, staffing matters remain an issue between the employer, West Coast Trains Limited, and its staff.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency cases there are in each revised order of case closure; and when the estimated closure time is for each grouping.

Steve Webb: The following table shows an estimate of when the 800,000 Child Support Agency cases with an ongoing child maintenance liability will close.
	
		
			 Segment Description Volume Start End 
			 1 No child maintenance is liable for payment 156,000 January 2015 February 2016 
			 2 Paying parent is currently not paying maintenance 89,000 August 2015 June 2016 
			 3 Cases that are currently being managed outside of the two legacy systems 46,000 November 2015 March 2016 
			 4 Remaining legacy cases with no enforcement action 380,000 November 2015 September 2017 
			 5 Enforcement action is under way 129,000 July 2017 May 2018

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Michael Penning: Neither the Department for Work and Pensions nor any of its non-departmental public bodies have any current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Employment and Support Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of employment and support allowance claimants who were employed in each of the last 12 months.

Esther McVey: We have interpreted the question to be for those who moved from employment and support allowance (ESA) into employment and this information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of employment and support allowance claimants that were subject to sanctions in each of the last 12 months.

Esther McVey: Information on the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants sanctioned in each of the last 12 months is published and available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions
	Information on the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) in each of the last four quarters is published and available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employment-and-support-allowance-caseload-statistics
	We cannot provide monthly proportions as the ESA caseload data is only available quarterly.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 345W, on employment and support allowance (ESA), how many work programme job outcome payments there were in each ESA prognosis customer group in Great Britain between 1 June 2011 and 31 December 2013.

Esther McVey: The information held in respect of job outcomes by employment and support allowance (ESA) prognosis group, is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of Work programme job outcomes by ESA prognosis Customer Groups, Great Britain: 1 June 2011-31 December 2013 
			 ESA Prognosis Customer Group Job outcomes 
			 All ESA WRAG 11,900 
			 ESA (c) WRAG Mandatory 810 
		
	
	
		
			 ESA (c) WRAG Voluntary 240 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 12Mth Mandatory 1,060 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 12Mth Voluntary 170 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6Mth Stock 370 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory 7,750 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Voluntary 120 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Mandatory ExIB 560 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 Mth Voluntary ExIB 20 
			 ESA Mandatory (IR) WRAG 12m 650 
			 ESA (IR) WRAG 12m Mandatory EXIB 140 
			 ESA Credit Only 40 
			 ESA (IR) Support Group 50 
			 ESA (c) Support Group 20 
			 ESA (IR) Support Group ExIB 10 
			 ESA (c) Support Group ExIB 20 
		
	
	In addition to the 296,000 jobseekers where the Work programme provider has claimed a job outcome payment, there are a further 26,000 people who we have identified, who have spent at least six months in work (or three for the hardest to help), but where the provider has not claimed a job outcome.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, columns 170-1W, on employment and support allowance, how many decisions on eligibility for employment and support allowance have been made in each month since May 2010.

Michael Penning: We have interpreted the question to be for employment and support allowance work capability assessments decision outcomes. This information is published in table 1a for initial functional assessments and table 1b for repeat functional assessments at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-june-2014

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, columns 345-6W, on employment and support allowance, how many claimants in the WRAG with a prognosis of two years or more who made (a) a new claim - initial assessment and (b) a new claim - repeat assessment were judged that return to work was unlikely in the longer term.

Michael Penning: The figures requested are the same as those referred to in the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, columns 345-6W, on employment and support allowance. A prognosis of two years or more is defined as unlikely in the longer term.
	The prognoses available to the health care professional are:
	Three months
	Six months
	12 months
	18 months
	Within two years
	In the longer term

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the methodology and assumptions used to populate the Help to Work sections of Table 2.1, page 78, Autumn Statement 2013, Cm 8747 showing financial savings arising from the programme.

Esther McVey: Page 8 of the Autumn Statement 2013: policy costing document sets out the assumptions and methodology for the benefit savings from Help to Work that are in Table 2.1, page 78, Autumn Statement 2013.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263434/autumn_statement_2013_policy_costings.pdf

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Michael Penning: Data on the performance ratings for 2013-14 covering disabled employees (and other categories of employee protected by the Equality Act 2010) is not yet available but analysis of the figures has commenced.

Personal Independence Payment

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will provide financial assistance to people facing delays to personal independence payments applications.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Livingston (Graeme Morrice), on 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 178W.

Personal Independence Payment

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target his Department sets for the amount of time for people to receive an accurate assessment for personal independence payments under (a) normal rules claiming and (b) special rules claiming.

Michael Penning: There are no legal requirements to complete action on a claim to PIP within a specified time, but we continuously monitor how long the claimant journey is taking against original estimates and implement measures to speed up the process.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each such number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at BT local rates are available in each such case.

Esther McVey: The information is as follows:
	(a) Number of customer helplines with a prefix of 0845 is 139
	(b) The Department does not operate any 0844 numbers
	(c) The Department does not operate any 0843 numbers
	Data sources and metric definitions will be placed in the Library.
	All numbers currently owned by Network Services relate to calls either managed entirely within the Department or split between DWP and outsourcing partners. If the Department sponsors any numbers on behalf of third parties data are not included within Network Services reporting.
	During 2014 DWP are introducing 0345 numbers to run alongside existing 0845 numbers to provide a choice for the caller based on the arrangement they have with their telephony provider. Using 0345 numbers allows DWP to use the same last seven digits as its 0845 range.
	Charges for calls to 0345/0845 numbers vary and depend on the person’s contract with their provider. When charges apply the costs are shown on the following web page for the gov.uk site
	www.gov.uk/call-charges
	If a customer raises concerns over the cost of a call we will offer to call them back from our inquiry lines. The Department also provides controlled access to telephones for claimants who require one in support of their jobsearch or benefit enquiry.
	The Department does not operate any prefixes that begin with 0844 or 0843 therefore no alternative numbers are available.

Winter Fuel Payments: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in (a) York Central constituency and (b) York Unitary Authority area received winter fuel payments in the last year for which data is available.

Steve Webb: The information for winter 2012-13 is available on the internet at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/winter-fuel-payment-caseload-and-household-figures-201213

Work Programme

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reforms his Department plans to make to the Work Programme following the downgrading of the project's rating from green to amber by the Major Projects Authority.

Esther McVey: The Major Projects Authority has not downgraded the Work programmes project rating. The rating was amber in 2012-13 and has remained amber in 2013-14.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what appeals process is available for farmers who are subject to deductions from single farm payments for (a) cattle passport contraventions and (b) breaches of the conditions of the Rural Stewardship Scheme in (i) Cambridgeshire and (ii) England; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: Complaints against deductions made by the Rural Payments Agency to a farmer’s payments under the Single Payment Scheme should be made to the Agency. Complaints are reviewed within the Agency. If a farmer disagrees with the Agency’s final decision, they may ask for an independent review by the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel, who will make a recommendation to me to make a final decision.
	The Agency’s full complaints procedure is set out online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/rural-payments-agency/about/complaints-procedure
	Deductions from payments under the Single Payment Scheme are not made in respect of breaches of Environmental Stewardship scheme conditions alone. Where a breach of these conditions is found, an appropriate penalty would be applied in respect of the Environmental Stewardship payments received or due to be received. Natural England, which administers the scheme, has a formal appeals procedure described in section 5.7.4 of the Entry Level Stewardship Handbook, available online at:
	http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/2781958

Beef: Prices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the causes and effects of falls in beef farm gate prices; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take in response to falls in beef farm gate prices.

George Eustice: With supplies of cattle outstripping demand both at home and abroad, domestic prime cattle prices have been under pressure and have fallen throughout 2014. In May, prices were at their lowest level since mid-2012 and 15-20% lower than the peak reached in 2013. The European Commission (EC) Short Term Outlook expects beef prices to remain firm although below the 2013 record highs.
	On 1 July, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment will be hosting a senior-level beef industry summit with retailers, meat processors and farmers to discuss falling farm gate beef prices and develop strategies for a sustainable British beef sector.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has undertaken of the effect of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project on the incidence of bovine TB in cattle.

George Eustice: The purpose of the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project is to learn lessons about the practicalities of deploying an injectable vaccine; provide training for others who may wish to apply for a licence to vaccinate badgers; and build farmer confidence in the use of badger vaccination. It was not designed as a scientific trial to assess the impact of vaccination on bovine TB in cattle and the scale of the project is insufficient to produce statistically reliable data on this.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to expand the training provided by the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project.

George Eustice: We are working with our Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to consider training needs and how these can be met, building on lessons from the Badger Vaccination Deployment Project. Announcements on this will be made in due course.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department (a) has funded or (b) plans to fund badger vaccination against bovine TB in this calendar year;
	(2)  how much resource his Department plans to provide as matched funding for badger vaccination to tackle bovine TB in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

George Eustice: In April 2013, as part of the Government’s Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free Status for England, the Secretary of State announced new support for privately led vaccination initiatives in the Edge Area. Building on ongoing work with stakeholders, including a key workshop held on 24 June, a new scheme will be launched shortly and will offer financial and other support, such as training and advice. Announcements about the future of the existing Badger Vaccination Fund, which has been available since 2012 and has offered more limited support, will also be made in due course. The total funds offered will be dependent on demand.

Common Agricultural Policy

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department plans to issue further guidance on ecological focus areas; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), made a statement to the House on 10 June covering a range of Common Agricultural Policy Reform implementation decisions. A number of subsequent decisions have to be made in relation to the greening Ecological Focus Area requirements, and we plan to issue further guidance to claimants within the next two months.

Dogs: Diseases

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of lungworm in dogs have been identified in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: The data requested is not collected or held by DEFRA.

Food Supply

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the minimum number of weeks supply of food stocks required for the UK to maintain an acceptable level of food security.

George Eustice: The UK Government does not hold stocks of food. Food supply is part of the UK's Critical National Infrastructure, and food industry sectors are resilient with wide and diverse sources of supply and strong contingency plans. DEFRA works closely with the industry and across Government, including Devolved Administrations, on the resilience of food supply, and ensures that industry sectors have the support they need to respond in the event of emergency situations.

Marine Animals

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the potential changes in levels of marine animals and aquatic life on UK beaches and coasts as a result of climate change and a consequent effect on levels of tourism.

George Eustice: DEFRA has in place monitoring to inform our understanding of the conservation status of certain marine habitats and species, much of which is in response to EU legislation. We also continue to support the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership which brings together scientists, government, its agencies and NGOs to provide co-ordinated advice on climate change impacts around our coast and in our seas. Further, we have recently consulted on proposals for monitoring the state of the marine environment, including marine animals, under the provisions of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. We will be publishing our response to that consultation shortly.
	DEFRA currently has no plans to specifically assess the impact of potential changes in populations of marine animals as a result of climate change on levels of tourism. However, where appropriate, Government impact assessments include consideration of the economic impacts of policies in the marine environment on tourism.

Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Group

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life was in the context of the Flood Risk Management, as quoted as part of the Environment Agency's submission to the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's submission to the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review and all evidence submitted to the series of interviews with his Department's staff conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds in 2008;
	(3)  what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life was in the context of the Health benefits from air pollution reduction, as quoted as part of his Department's submission to the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency did not provide an explicit monetary value for a quality adjusted life in the context of flood risk management as part of the 2008 review. It did provide a discussion of risk to life valuation in connection to flood risk in Boscastle, as referenced on page 10 of the 2008 Review.
	The explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life from air pollution reduction, as quoted as part of the Department’s submission to the Inter-Departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008 was valued using a “lost life years” methodology at £29,000 (in 2004 prices) for each additional year of life. This figure was informed by a 2004 DEFRA report entitled Valuation of Health Benefits Associated with Reduction in Air Pollution available here
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/airquality/publications/healthbenefits/airpollution_reduction.pdf
	The 2004 study did not directly give the £29,000 figure but was instrumental in its adoption.
	The lead economist working in health and wellbeing in the Department was a member of this group in 2008. His interview responses were formed from his experience within the Department. Records of the interviews conducted by the university of Leeds (other than what is incorporated into the report itself) were not kept by the Department.

Veterinary Medicine: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the oral evidence of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Farming, Food and Marine Environment to the Science and Technology Committee of 12 March 2014, HC 848, question 327, what the evidential basis is for his statement that antibiotics tend to be used in the veterinary world more sparingly than in the medical world.

George Eustice: Data on antibiotic use in the medical and veterinary sectors are currently collated in a different format, which prevents direct comparison.
	However, data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows that 376 tonnes of just one class of antibiotic, the ß-lactams, was used in primary care in England in 2012. This does not factor in other classes of antibiotic, or those used in secondary care, in contrast the total sales of all antibiotics for use in animals for the whole UK was 409 tonnes, 82 tonnes of which were ß-lactams.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Agriculture: Technology

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he is making in increasing exports of UK agricultural technologies; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: To support the international priorities of the Government's industrial strategy for agricultural technologies, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has established the Agri-Tech Organisation. This industry-led team provides strategic and practical export support to UK based companies and promotes the UK for inward investment.
	The Agri-Tech Organisation is identifying opportunities in mature and early stage markets with the support of the UK Business Ambassador for Agri-Tech and private sector advisers to maximise the UK's agricultural technology sector's growth potential. This includes working closely with UKTI overseas posts in scoping and promoting visits or events.

Apprentices

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reason allowing employers which wish to continue with current apprenticeship funding arrangements to do so was not listed as an option in his Department's recent consultation on the future of apprenticeships.

Matthew Hancock: The Apprenticeships Funding Reform Technical Consultation sought evidence on the practical implications for employers of two new systems for routing apprenticeship funding: the PAYE model and the Apprenticeship Credit. The practical implications of the current system are already well understood, therefore we did not include this in the technical consultation. We are giving careful consideration to all feedback received, before announcing our next steps in the autumn.

Business: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is giving to small and medium-sized businesses in North Yorkshire.

Matthew Hancock: We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for small and medium sized businesses everywhere.
	www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the 'Finance and Support Finder;' a searchable database of publicly-backed sources of finance and business support. The website:
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	also provides support and advice for anyone trying to start or grow a business.
	In addition to online support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs.
	North Yorkshire has benefitted from a number of support schemes. The Start-Up Loan Scheme has provided business advice and 629 loans with a value of £3.3 million to people starting a business. Since May 2010, 165 companies have benefitted from the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme with a drawn down value of over £22 million.

Business: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what work the British Business Bank is doing in Northern Ireland to promote its services to small businesses located there.

Matthew Hancock: British Business Bank programmes facilitated £7.5 million of new lending and investment to smaller businesses in Northern Ireland in 2013/14.
	The Business Bank’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee programme supported £5.1 million of additional lending to Northern Irish businesses during 2013/14, bringing the total amount of lending through the programme in Northern Ireland to £36.1 million.
	The Bank’s Start Up Loans programme was extended to Northern Ireland in June 2013 and since then, it has provided 120 loans to Northern Irish start-ups, lending a total of over £560,000.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Northern Ireland Executive recently hosted a roadshow in Northern Ireland to promote the delivery of Business Bank programmes through Northern Irish finance providers and the Business Bank is actively discussing with the Executive how it can continue to support Northern Irish businesses in the future.

Companies: Ownership

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will ensure that his legislative proposals aimed at creating a public register of beneficial ownership ensure that information in the register has undergone verification.

Jo Swinson: The Government recognises that register integrity is an important issue. This Department is carefully considering with Companies House and others what checks are necessary to ensure integrity of data and that the registration of company information in the UK remains quick, simple and inexpensive.
	The current UK register is one of the most open in the world, and is accessed over 240 million times a year. This means the information is policed on a significant scale by the public, who report anomalies to Companies House for follow up.

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Jo Swinson: The Department does not have any contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of its subsidiaries.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Department’s Executive Agencies (Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office, Intellectual Property Office, UK Space Agency, Ordnance Survey, Met Office, Land Registry and the Skills Funding Agency) and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
	Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Letter from John Alty, dated June 2014
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 24 June, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. (202232)
	The Intellectual Property Office has no contract with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	Letter from Neil Ackroyd, dated 26 June 2014
	As Acting Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills "what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's Executive Agencies or Non-departmental Public Bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	Ordnance Survey does not hold any current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or its subsidiaries.
	Should you have any further questions, please let me know.
	Letter from Richard Judge, dated June 2014
	The Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. My response relates to the Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Insolvency Service has no contract with the educational testing service or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 25 June 2014
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 24 June 2014, UIN 202232 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House does not have any current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	Letter from Barbara Spicer, dated 25 June 2014
	Thank you for your question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. (202232)
	Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency does not currently hold a contract with any of the following organisations: ETS or any of the subsidiary organisations that they refer to including Computerized Assessments and Learning LLC, Edusoft Ltd, Prometric and ETS Global.
	I hope this satisfactorily addresses your question. If you have any follow up queries, please let me know.
	Letter from David Parker, date 25 June 2014
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills asking what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and has no contracts with the educational testing services or any of its subsidiaries.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 26 June 2014
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 24 June 2014, UIN 202232 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Met Office holds no contracts with the educational testing service or any of its subsidiaries.
	Letter from Richard Sanders, dated 25 June 2014
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO), an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 24 June 2014 asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries. (202232)
	The National Measurement Office has no current contracts with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	Letter from Ed Lester, dated 25 June 2014
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 202232 tabled on 24 June 2014 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.
	I can confirm that Land Registry do not hold any contracts with the Educational Testing Service. If you could let me know the names of any subsidiary companies you would like me to check, please let me have the company names.

Energy: Industry

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he first notified the European Commission of his plans to compensate certain energy-intensive users for the indirect costs of the carbon price floor; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Government pre-notified the European Commission of our plans to compensate certain energy intensive industries for the indirect costs of the carbon price floor in September 2012 and, following feedback from the Commission, we formally notified them on 11 February 2014.
	The European Commission approved our State Aid application on 21 May 2014 and we will be able to start paying companies shortly.

EU External Trade: USA

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement regulations on UK public services and businesses as a result of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what UK Government policy is towards such regulations in international investment agreements.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned research into Investor State Dispute Clauses (ISDS), reviewed academic research, consulted external experts and carried out its own internal analysis on investment provisions. The UK currently has over 90 investment protection agreements with other countries. There has been no successful action against the UK in respect of any of these agreements. ISDS provisions in investment and trade treaties can help to create a positive investment climate. The ISDS provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are still under negotiation. We believe these provisions must strike the right balance between protecting investors and the host nation’s right to regulate and determine policy and also provide transparency of process. A balanced ISDS clause in TTIP could act as a model for future trade and investment agreements.

Foreign Investment in UK: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what work the Regeneration Investment Organisation is undertaking to promote Northern Ireland as a location for investment in regeneration projects.

Michael Fallon: The Regeneration Investment Organisation (RIO) is actively working on several investment opportunities in Northern Ireland with a gross development value of around £3 billion. The team has held commercial dialogue with overseas investors for some of these schemes.
	The RIO team has a dedicated Regional Project Manager who engages with development opportunities in Northern Ireland, works closely with Invest Northern Ireland and helps projects advance to a stage where they would be able to attract overseas investment.
	There is also official representation from Northern Ireland on the Regeneration Investment Advisory Board (RIAB), a group consisting of Industry and Government specialists set up to provide strategic advice and oversight of RIO activity.

National Careers Service

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of potential changes in the number of jobs at the National Careers Service arising from the Government's digital-by-default policy.

Matthew Hancock: The new National Careers Service has been designed to respond to the changing needs of the economy with a focus on local leadership and providing inspiring careers advice for customers, including a new brokerage role to facilitate relationships between schools and employers.
	As part of the re-procurement process organisations were assessed on their capacity and capability to deliver the service through face to face services and a range of media that meet customers’ specific needs and preferences. It is a matter for the new contractors how they achieve outcomes for customers including how they deploy their staff resource to deliver the service.

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many start-up loans have been granted to local businesses in (a) Thirsk and Malton constituency, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) North of England in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The Start-Up Loans programme commenced in 2012.
	
		
			  Thirsk and Malton North Yorkshire North of England1 
			  Loan Volume Value of loans (£ million) Loan Volume Value of loans (£ million) Loan Volume Value of loans (£ million) 
			 2012 0 0 4 0.01 54 0.23 
			 2013 14 0.10 414 2.26 2993 16.55 
			 2014 (to date) 8 0.05 629 3.29 5108 26.55 
			 1 North England comprises of values for North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber. Note: All values are loans drawn down.

New Businesses: Hackney

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many start-up loans have been granted to businesses in Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The Start-Up Loans programme commenced in September 2012, in that year there was one loan with a value of £5,000 drawn down in Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. In 2013 there were 110 loans with a drawn value of £752,465 granted and 2014 to date there have been 53 loans with a drawn value of £259,065 granted.

NHS: Drugs

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the US-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on the cost of medicine procurement for the NHS.

Michael Fallon: Previous trade agreements outline a number of high-level principles in relation to arrangements for controlling the prices of medicines. We do not expect the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership to include any additional obligations in this area.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Jo Swinson: In common with most other Government Departments, BIS currently has three performance categories; category 1 (top), category 2 and category 3. The following table sets out the percentage of employees who have declared a disability within each performance category, and the percentage of all other staff in each performance category for the 2013-14 reporting year. The percentage of all other staff includes those who have either declared that they do not have a disability, have chosen the option of ‘prefer not to say’ or have not made a declaration. 6.5% of staff BIS have currently declared that they have a disability.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 
			 Those who have declared a disability 16 54 30 
			 All other staff 23 59 18 
		
	
	BIS undertakes a number of activities to mitigate against the risk of discriminatory performance markings including training for managers and staff on unconscious bias and specific guidance on making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.

Public Houses

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to introduce a legal requirement for pubcos to offer a free-of-tie option in the public house sector.

Jo Swinson: The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, introduced to this House on 25 June 2014, does not include provision for mandatory free-of-tie. The Government recognises that some tenant groups and campaigners support this option, which might appear to offer a simple way of ensuring that tied tenants are no worse off than free-of-tie tenants. We looked carefully at this measure but have decided not to introduce it.
	The responses to the Government’s consultation on a Statutory Code and Adjudicator for the pubs sector raised concerns that mandatory free-of-tie would create uncertainty for pub-owning companies and have an unpredictable impact on the wider pubs sector which could even undermine the tied model. Even among the polarised views in the industry, there is strong support for the tie as a business model. What is important to the Government is that there are protections in place so that the tied model operates fairly. The reforms being taken forward in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will rebalance the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tied tenants, without threatening the balance of the wider industry.

Regional Growth Fund

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many projects have received funds from the Regional Growth Fund in (a) Thirsk and Malton constituency, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) the North of England in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: No Regional Growth Fund (RGF) awards have been made in the constituency of Thirsk and Malton.
	The following table shows the number of projects and programmes in the region that have been awarded RGF grants in Rounds 1-4 and the years in which the selected bidders for each round were announced.
	
		
			 RGF Round Year selected bidders were announced The North (North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside) North Yorkshire 
			 1 2011 27 0 
			 2 2011 90 1 
		
	
	
		
			 3 2012 50 0 
			 4 2013 30 0 
		
	
	Selected bidders for Round 5 were announced in April 2014 and Round 5 contracting is under way.
	Businesses in the North of England can apply to regional and national RGF programmes for support.

Trade Promotion: Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans for the next Government trade delegation to visit Egypt; and if he will include in that delegation construction companies from the UK.

Michael Fallon: I am planning to visit Egypt from 12-15 October 2014 with a business delegation. Our embassy in Cairo intends that the visit should focus on the following four sectors: Energy, Education, Retail and Construction.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards ending the testing of household products and ingredients on animals; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: We have made a commitment to ban the testing of household products on animals.
	Although superficially straightforward, the details have not been easy to resolve. Any solution has to be legally viable since we cannot ban testing which may be required under UK or EU law.
	The key issue is around ingredients. I am looking to develop a solution that is workable and sensible, but does not have a chain of unforeseen circumstances.
	We are looking to publish progress on the commitment later in the year.

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many creditors had remained unpaid by her Department on 1 June 2014 for (a) 45 days, (b) 60 days, (c) 75 days and (d) 76 days and over.

Karen Bradley: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Overdue period, payments owing: Number of creditors 
			 0-45 days 357 
			 46-60 days 71 
			 61-75 days 56 
			 76+ days 360 
		
	
	When calculating the unpaid period, the Home Office starts counting from the date when the invoice was due to be paid.
	The above figures refer to all creditors, including those with balances below £10,000.
	Invoices may be overdue for a number of reasons including the Department disputing the amount.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to increase the reporting of domestic and sexual violence offences by victims;
	(2)  what funding under which categories of expenditure her Department has allocated to domestic and sexual violence support services in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what steps her Department has taken to tackle domestic violence and sexual abuse since 2010.

Norman Baker: Domestic and sexual violence are devastating crimes and are not acceptable within our society. The coalition Government's continued approach to tackling such violence and abuse is set out in our Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan, updated in March 2014.
	Supporting victims is at the heart of this approach, which includes giving victims more confidence to report, and it is encouraging that police recorded crime figures show more victims are having the confidence to come forward.
	The Government has ring-fenced nearly £40 million of stable funding from 2010 up to 2015 for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, the national domestic violence helplines and stalking helpline.
	Over the spending review period the Home Office funding of £28 million provides for:
	144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, 87 dedicated Independent Sexual Violence Advisers, 54 Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference Co-ordinators, and funding to Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse to provide support and advice to MARACs, as well as running a programme of quality assurance and £1.2 million for three years from 2012 to improve services for young people suffering sexual violence in major urban areas. £900,000 a year is used towards the running costs of national helplines for victims of domestic violence and stalking.
	In 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with domestic violence and abuse. HMIC's report exposed significant failings. In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to ensure HMIC's recommendations are acted upon. The Group met for the first time on 10 June.
	The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014, to improve their response to domestic violence and abuse.

Domestic Violence: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce incidents of domestic abuse and violence against women in Peterborough; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government has made the tackling of violence against women and girls a high priority. Our approach is set out in our strategy, ‘Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls’ published in November 2010, together with a supporting Action Plan. A revised version of the Action Plan was published in March 2014 and contains 150 actions across Government departments.
	For the first time, this Government has put stable funding in place, ring-fencing nearly £40 million for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, and national helplines. This includes £20,000 funding provided by the Home Office for the provision of an Independent Domestic Violence Adviser at Peterborough City Council, and £10,000 to the Cambridgeshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre, and £30,000 per financial year 2011-2014, increased to £45,000 for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, provided by the Ministry of Justice to Peterborough Rape Crisis.
	This Government is committed to driving improvements in the police response to victims of domestic violence. That is why, last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to conduct an all force review of domestic violence. HMIC published its findings on 27 March 2014 and highlighted serious failings in the police response. In response to the review, the Home Secretary is leading a series of measures to improve the police response. This includes establishing a new National Oversight Group, which she chairs and on which I sit. The Home Secretary has also written to all chief constables making it clear that the police must make significant improvements and that every police force, including Cambridgeshire Police, must have an action plan in place by September 2014 to address HMIC’s findings.

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what current contracts (a) her Department and (b) each of her Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Karen Bradley: There are currently no contracts held by the Home Department or any of its executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies with the Educational Testing Service or its subsidiaries.

HM Passport Office

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much in additional payments has been paid to staff of HM Passport Office of each grade between po1 and 6 in each month of 2014; how many staff of each grade received such payments; and what the total amount of such payments is.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office does not hold data on overtime payments in the format requested. However, below is the overtime costs associated with additional work undertaken in each month of 2014.
	
		
			  £ 
			 January 199,146 
			 February 400,812 
			 March 840,588 
			 April 793,559 
			 May 964,742

HM Passport Office

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much in overtime costs has been spent in HM Passport Office in each month of 2014.

James Brokenshire: Overtime costs in Her Majesty's Passport Office in each month of 2014 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 January 199,146 
			 February 400,812 
			 March 840,588 
			 April 793,559 
			 May 964,742

HM Passport Office: Newport

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department saved for the Exchequer by closing the Passport Office in Newport.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office has not closed its office in Newport. There is an office in Newport providing counter fast track and premium services, interviews for first time adult applicants and the customer contact centre.
	During 2011-12, as part of a wider operations restructuring, postal passport application processing ceased in Newport and the office was relocated. It is estimated that this reduced operational costs by around £2.6 million per year.

Human Trafficking

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes have been made to the structure of the Human Trafficking Unit in the Metropolitan Police; and which other police forces in the UK operate a modern slavery or human trafficking unit.

Karen Bradley: On 12 May 2014, the Metropolitan Police Service launched the new Trafficking and Kidnap Unit with the aim being to provide enhanced support to the victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. The new Unit has an enhanced management structure to serve the growing demands of trafficking and modem slavery investigations. It is one of the largest pro-active investigation teams in London, and the only full time modern slavery police unit in the United Kingdom.
	The National Crime Agency's UK Human Trafficking Centre provides 24/7 tactical advice capability for local forces, which have developed their own bespoke structures and processes according to local needs.

Islam: Marriage

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mosques are registered with the General Registry Office to perform civil marriages and partnerships.

Karen Bradley: No mosques are registered with the General Register Office for England and Wales for civil marriages or civil partnership.
	The governing body of a mosque or other building where the Muslim faith is practised may apply to have that building certified as a place of religious worship under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855. Following this, the building can then be registered for the solemnization of marriages under the Marriage Act 1949.
	There are 258 such buildings registered.

Passports

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether HM Passport Office is meeting the 2013-14 performance targets (a) to process 99.5 per cent of straightforward passport applications within 10 working days, (b) where additional information is required from customers to process 93 per cent of applications within 29 working days, (c) to process 99.5 per cent of premium and fast track applications within four hours or seven days and (d) to achieve a customer satisfaction rating of at least 90 per cent.

James Brokenshire: In 2013-14 Her Majesty's Passport Office met its performance targets for straightforward passport applications, non-straightforward passport applications and premium and fast-track passport applications. In March 2014, Her Majesty's Passport Office achieved its customer satisfaction target.

Passports

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of passport applications have been received in each month since June 2010 from (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not hold this information in the form requested. The cost of identifying it from individual applicant data would be disproportionate.

Passports

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of fast-track passport applications made in the last six months have been processed within seven days.

James Brokenshire: The following table gives the proportion of fast-track passport applications that were processed within seven days.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 December 2013 99.97 
			 January 2014 99.99 
			 February 2014 99.97 
			 March 2014 99.95 
			 April 2014 99.99 
			 May 2014 99.96

Passports: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many passport applications from residents of Ashfield constituency received more than three weeks ago HM Passport Office are processing;
	(2)  how many passport applications from residents of Ashfield constituency received in the last three months were not processed by HM Passport Office in three weeks.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office does not hold the information in the form requested. The cost of providing it from individual applicant data held would be disproportionate.

Passports: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of passport applications submitted by residents of Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in each month since June 2010; and how many such cases were processed within three weeks of receipt.

James Brokenshire: This information is not held in an accessible form by Her Majesty's Passport Office.
	The cost of extracting this data would be disproportionate and so unfortunately I cannot provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by her Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Karen Bradley: The performance management data for 2013-14 is not yet available.

Police

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are per head of the population in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Damian Green: The figures provided show the number of police officers per 100,000 population in England and in Wales as at 31 March 2013.
	
		
			 Number of full-time equivalent1 police officers per 100,000 population2 as at 31 March 2013 
			  Total number of police officers Total officers per 100,000 population 
			 England 122,751 231 
			 Wales 6,833 223 
			 Total England and Wales 129,584 231 
			 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been presented to the nearest whole number. 2 Population figures relate to mid 2011 population estimates based on the 2011 Census.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, (b) 0844 and (c) 0843 her Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how many calls each such number has received in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at BT local rates are available in each such case.

Karen Bradley: Please see the following tables detailing the use and purpose of non geographic numbers, 0843, 0844 and 0845. These figures are taken directly from BT’s call reporting system.
	
		
			 Home Office 
			 Prefix Number of lines/service Inbound calls in last 12 months1 Alternative BT Local Rate No? 
			 0843 0 n/a No 
			 0844 0 n/a No 
			     
			 0845 Nationality Contact Centre/European Enquiry Line 362,582 Migrated to 0300 March 2014 
			  Asylum Support Line 46,294 Migrated to 0300 March 2014 
			  MPs Inquiry Line 18,441 No 
			 1Note: On 7 March 2014 the Nationality Contact Centre/European Inquiry Line and the Asylum Support Line both migrated from 0845 to the 0300 prefix with calls charged the same as calls to 01/02. The above volumes for those lines therefore are from June 2013 to March 2014. 
		
	
	
		
			 HM Passport Office 
			 Prefix Number of lines/service Inbound calls in last 12 months Alternative BT Local Rate No? 
			 0843 0 n/a No 
			 0844 0 n/a No 
			     
			 0845 Customer Letters 325,452 0300 number available 
			  Passport verification services (PVS) (a Business to Business Service) 50,644 No

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps UK Visas and Immigration can take to prevent no cases of Ebola reaching the UK.

James Brokenshire: The UK does not specifically screen pre or at entry for Ebola.
	Public Health England has assessed the risk of importation of Ebola in the UK as very low. It is extremely unlikely that an outbreak of Ebola would occur in the UK even if there was to be an imported case, as there are factors operating in West Africa which would not be seen in the UK. The outbreak in West Africa is driven by person to person spread in the absence of any infection control precautions. Human cases of Ebola virus disease have never yet been exported from an outbreak zone to a European country.
	All UK ports have systems and plans for dealing with issues of public health concern. However, they all require that the public health system is firstly notified of the arrival of someone with a suspected disease of concern. Crew are trained to do this by their respective companies and an example of the type of guidance that they work towards can be found on the International Air Transport Association (the international airline trade body) website at:
	https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/safety/health/Documents/health-guidelines-cabin-crew-2011.pdf
	At all UK ports, there is a system for routing reports, produced by the commander of a craft, to a local health protection team who are available on a 24/7 basis throughout the year. Health protection teams have generic responsibility for managing incidents of public health concern in all settings including our ports. They will then take the lead in managing the incident from a public health perspective with the NHS being responsible for the provision of health care.
	The international health regulations (IHR), which entered into force on 15 June 2007, require countries to report certain disease outbreaks and public health events to WHO, including Ebola.

EDUCATION

Children: Protection

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review whether the recent guidance, keeping children safe in education, distinguishes between legislation which applies to further education colleges as opposed to sixth form colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education's 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance is clear that it applies to children under the age of 18 in both further education and sixth-form colleges.
	We are currently considering requests for clarification to the guidance as part of our implementation review.

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the educational testing service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department and agencies have no current contracts with the educational testing service or its subsidiaries.

Government Procurement Card

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many transactions were made by each (a) Minister and (b) official in his Department on government procurement cards held by his Department in the last financial year; and what the cost, date and reasons for each such transaction was.

Elizabeth Truss: Government procurement card transactions over £500 are published on:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/gpc-spend-dfe
	Information on transactions below that level is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Internet: Bullying

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department gives schools and teachers on online abuse from a student towards a teacher.

Elizabeth Truss: Guidance to schools about online abuse by pupils towards teachers is set out in our advice document, 2Preventing and Tackling Bullying”. This guidance signposts schools to “Digizen.Org” who offer a range of advice and support for school staff. Schools can also access a range of practical resources from the UK Safer Internet Centre.

Languages: Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality and increase the uptake of foreign language training in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The new national curriculum introduces the teaching of a foreign language to key stage 2 (ages seven to 11) from September 2014, which will increase the uptake of foreign languages in both primary and, overtime, secondary schools. By starting languages earlier, pupils will have longer to develop their skills to a high level before continuing with language learning in secondary school.
	The English Baccalaureate is already encouraging more young people to take a language at GCSE level. Take up by key stage 4 pupils in England of a modern foreign language increased by over 20% between 2012 and 2013.
	The Department for Education believes it is important to give teachers the flexibility to decide how to teach. We expect schools to identify the support that they need to prepare for the new curriculum, recognising that different schools will face different challenges.
	We are allocating £350,000 this year to fund training on the new national curriculum for teachers of modern foreign languages in primary and secondary schools. We have also allocated some £1.9 million to teaching schools to lead curriculum change across and within their teaching school alliances. 46 of the projects being supported involve languages.
	The independent Expert Group, chaired by a leading primary headteacher, has published links to useful resources, which are hosted on the website of the Association for Language Learning. This is specifically to support the introduction of a compulsory foreign language at key stage 2. We are also making extensive use of social networking, including using high profile headteachers and others to raise the profile of the new curriculum, including for languages, through podcasts, webchats and blogs.

Local Government Services: Children

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what meetings Ministers in his Department have had on the outsourcing of local authority children's services since May 2010.

Edward Timpson: Through its Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme the Government is supporting local authorities to take new approaches to maximise the capacity and skills brought to bear in improving services for the most vulnerable children. Part of that work involves giving local authorities greater freedom to test new delivery models and harness external ideas and expertise by allowing them to delegate children’s social care functions to external providers.
	Ministers have regular internal and external meetings to discuss this policy in particular and approaches to delivering children’s social care more widely.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has issued to schools on the role of special educational needs coordinators in decisions on spending the pupil premium.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has not issued guidance to schools on the role of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) in decisions on how to spend the Pupil Premium. We expect that schools will want to involve the SENCO in determining how to use the Pupil Premium to fund support for those pupils with special educational needs who are economically deprived, looked after by the local authority or who have left care via adoption or other routes.
	It should also be noted that the draft 0-25 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice states that the SENCO, headteacher and governing body or proprietor should consider their strategic approach to meeting special educational needs in the context of the total resources available to the school, including any resources targeted at particular groups, such as the Pupil Premium. The draft SEND Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on 11 June 2014 and must be approved by Parliament before it comes into force on 1 September 2014.

Pupils: Mental Health

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the adequacy of specialist support within maintained schools to help students with mental health problems.

Edward Timpson: The way in which specialist support is provided will vary according to local arrangements.
	When specialist provision is required, schools and teachers should have support from appropriately trained and qualified local health partners and other organisations. Both education and health providers should be clear when referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are the most appropriate form of specialist support.
	To support schools with doing this, on 16 June 2014 the Department for Education issued new non-statutory guidance for schools and teachers on pupils’ mental health and behaviour. This guidance helps school staff identify those pupils who may have emerging problems and provides guidance on appropriate routes of ensuring appropriate specialist support where necessary.

Schools: Admissions

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school places have been created in (i) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iii) the North of England since May 2010.

Edward Timpson: The Department collects information from each local authority on the number of available school places (school capacity) in state-funded primary and secondary schools (except special schools) through an annual survey. The most recent data available relates to the position at May 2013 and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2012-to-2013
	Statistics for May 2010 can be found in table 1 of the SFR main tables:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2010-to-2011

Schools: Swimming

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department takes to promote the teaching of water safety in schools.

Edward Timpson: In the new national curriculum, which comes into force from September 2014, swimming and water safety remain compulsory in the programme of study for physical education (PE) at primary level. We are sending a clear message to schools that swimming and water safety are essential: no other activities are specified requirements in the PE curriculum. The programme of study for PE is available online here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study
	The Department for Education is providing over £450 million of ring-fenced funding across the academic years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 to go directly to primary schools, to be spent on the improvement of PE and sport. Headteachers are best placed to decide how the funding should be used and, using the funding, they can provide additional training and instruction in swimming and water safety (over and above the requirements of the national curriculum) if they choose.
	There are a range of resources to help schools provide high-quality teaching, including from organisations such as the Amateur Swimming Association and from the Royal Lifesaving Society.

Special Educational Needs

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department gives teachers and those working in schools on responding to a violent student with special educational needs.

Elizabeth Truss: We have issued advice to schools on the use of reasonable force, which makes clear that teachers have a specific power to use reasonable force to prevent pupils from causing injury to themselves or others, causing damage to property or from causing disorder. While there is no requirement for schools to have a policy on the use of force, we say that it is good practice to do so. Our advice says that any school policy on the use of reasonable force should acknowledge their legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children and children with special educational needs (SEN). Whether or not to physically intervene is down to the professional judgement of the staff member concerned and should always depend on individual circumstances and the needs of the individual pupil.
	Additionally, we have laid before Parliament a new 0-25 SEN and Disability Code of Practice. This makes it clear that schools should seek to identify whether there are any factors, such as undiagnosed special educational needs, that might underlie disruptive behaviour. We also issued advice on behaviour and mental health in June 2014 to help teachers differentiate between pupils that are simply behaving badly, and behaviour—whether it is disruptive, withdrawn, anxious, depressed or otherwise—that may be related to an unmet mental health need. This advice also outlined how these children can be supported.

Vocational Guidance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that young people without access to the necessary computer equipment have access to a digital-by-default careers service;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that (a) young people in custody and (b) other difficult-to-reach young people are able to access a digital-by-default careers service.

Matthew Hancock: Local authorities retain their legal responsibility, under section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, to make available to young people aged 13-19 and to those up to the age of 25 with a learning difficulty assessment or education, health and care plan, support that will encourage, enable or assist them to participate in education or training. Local authorities are expected to pay particular attention to young people who are not in education, employment or training or whose current activity is not known. This includes agreeing how these young people can access intensive support, drawn from the range of education and training support services available locally.
	It is for local authorities to determine what support is necessary to fulfil their statutory responsibilities and consider whether additional services are needed, including to complement those available from young offender institutions. Local authorities should provide strategic leadership in their areas to support participation, agreeing ways of working with other partners such as voluntary and community sector organisations, young offender institutions and probation services.
	The National Careers Service complements the support available to young people, offering information and advice on education, training and employment options. We are reshaping the service from October 2014 to respond to the changing needs of the economy with a focus on local leadership and providing inspiring careers advice for customers, including a new brokerage service to facilitate relationships between schools and employers. Young people can continue to access support through a range of channels including a telephone helpline and website.

DEFENCE

Chief Scientific Advisers

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with his Department's Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.

Philip Dunne: As was the case under previous Administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which contracts with his Department worth over £50 million are behind schedule owing to the failure of suppliers to deliver to an agreed schedule; and in the case of each such contract, who the suppliers were.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence currently has around 400 open contracts with a total value of more than £50 million. Current performance related information on each contract is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on training and capacity building in the Egyptian army.

Andrew Murrison: The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any discussions with his Egyptian counterpart on training and capacity building in the Egyptian army.
	As part of wider UK defence engagement Ministry of Defence officials regularly discuss the potential for further engagement with a number of countries and may from time to time provide training as required and in accordance with wider Government policy.

Interception Warrants

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many interception warrants were (a) issued, (b) declined and (c) cancelled by his Department under (i) section 8(1) and (ii) section 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in the last six months for which figures are available.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire Moorlands (Karen Bradley), on 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 376W.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which software block is installed on each Lightning II delivered to his Department to date;
	(2)  from which low-rate initial production lot each Lightning II delivered to his Department to date came from.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of three aircraft to date. Two aircraft, ordered in low rate initial production (LRIP) 3, are at Block 1A software standard and one aircraft, ordered in LRIP 4, is at Block 2A standard.

Reserve Forces

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sponsored reserves there were in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force service in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Number of sponsored reserves as at 1 April each year 
			  2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 
			 Total sponsored reserve 2,320 2,370 2,150 2,040 1,960 
			 RNR sponsored reserve 2,130 2,180 1,950 1,860 1,740 
			 Of which Royal Fleet Auxiliary 1,870 1,930 1,690 1,600 1,550 
			 Army sponsored reserve 80 90 100 80 90 
			 RAF sponsored reserve 120 100 100 100 130 
			 Notes: 1. All numbers are sourced from the Joint Personnel Administration by Defence Statistics (Tri-Service). 2. All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. 3. All reserves statistics are provisional due to ongoing data quality investigations. More detailed information on reserve numbers, including sponsored reserves can be found in the Defence Statistics Tri-Service Publication at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/314795/uk_reserve_force_cadets_2014.pdf

JUSTICE

Prison Places

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient prison places to accommodate people who receive custodial sentences.

Jeremy Wright: We are building new accommodation at four existing prisons, changing the role of prisons we do not need for their original purpose, and bringing back into use capacity we did not need in the past. As a result, 2,000 additional prison places will have been opened by April next year, and there will be more adult male prison places at the end of this Parliament than this Government inherited.
	A new 2,000 place prison in Wrexham will also be opened in 2017.

Homicide: Bereaved Families

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance his Department makes available to families bereaved by homicide.

Damian Green: The Government is committed to ensuring that families bereaved by homicide get the necessary support. The Ministry of Justice grant funded national Homicide Service provides tailored and intensive support based on families’ needs. We also fund a number of organisations that provide peer support and specialist counselling services to the bereaved.

Work and Training: Prisoners

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to encourage prisons in the (a) public and (b) private estate to enable offenders to take part in meaningful paid work and training; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: We want to see more prisoners engaged in meaningful work and training and, since this Government came to power, the number of hours worked in public sector prisons workshops has risen from 10.6 million to 13.1 million, with a further 1.5 million hours delivered in private prisons.
	We are committed to delivering still more, including through commercial contracts, and we expect prisoners to engage in purposeful activity if they want to earn their privileges.

Access to Justice

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to promote access to justice.

Shailesh Vara: The Government’s overall reform programme to promote access to justice aims to deliver a simpler justice system that is more accessible to the public; limit the scope for inappropriate litigation and the involvement of lawyers in issues which do not need legal input; and support people in resolving their disputes through simpler, more informal remedies.

Direct Selling

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many companies have been closed down by the Claims Management Regulator as a result of persistent nuisance calls to date.

Shailesh Vara: Since the start of regulation in 2007, the MOJ'S Claims Management Regulation (CMR) Unit has closed down over 1,100 CMCs.
	The Claims Management Regulator (CMR) has not closed down a claims management company (CMC) for persistent nuisance calls. It has taken other enforcement action in relation to non-compliant marketing practices including calls by CMCs. During 2013/14, for example, the CMR's specialist marketing compliance team carried out 45 audits, commenced five investigations, issued warnings to five CMCs in respect of their marketing practices, and restricted the marketing activity of one CMC. The CMR is working closely with the Information Commissioner's Office and Ofcom to support the delivery of the Government's Nuisance Call Action Plan, and has joined a taskforce led by consumer group, Which? to review issues concerning consent and lead generation. The taskforce is due to report back to the Government in late 2014.

Drake Hall Prison

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Drake Hall spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available.

Simon Hughes: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.
	Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-2010 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-2012 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-2011 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-2013, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Everthorpe Prison

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Everthorpe spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners.
	In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Information on hours worked during 2013-14 is scheduled for publication on 31 July 2014.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Homicide: Legal Aid Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims bereaved by homicide have (a) applied for and (b) been successful in applications for legal aid since May 2010.

Damian Green: The Legal Aid Agency does not record on its IT systems whether recipients of legal aid have been bereaved by homicide. There is no legal or business requirement for the agency to record this information. In the consideration of legal aid eligibility the agency assesses a person's overall financial circumstances.

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken since May 2010 to improve the provision of (a) legal advice and legal representation, (b) trauma and emotional support services and (c) services for children for victims bereaved by homicide.

Damian Green: Since May 2010, the Ministry of Justice has provided funding to Victim Support for a Homicide Service to provide tailored and intensive support based on need to families bereaved by homicide.
	In addition to a variety of practical support, including funeral arrangements, closing bank accounts, informing employers or schools, understanding the stages of an inquest and accessing restorative justice, caseworkers also prepare bereaved families for court, explaining the process and arranging pre-trial visits to the court.
	The Ministry of Justice funded Homicide Service also arranges specialist trauma and/or bereavement counselling services for both adults and children in the immediate aftermath and more long term, and arranges for legal advice, based on need.
	In addition to the funding provided to Victim Support, since 2011 the Ministry of Justice has provided separate grant funding to a number of peer support and specialist therapy organisations who can support adults and children bereaved through homicide.
	The Ministry of Justice recently announced that following a competed grant award process, Victim Support has been commissioned to operate a new national Homicide Service from October 2014 until March 2017 supporting people in England and Wales who have been bereaved by acts of homicide since 2010. This nationally commissioned service will include a range of emotional and practical support, specialist support including counselling for both adults and children, access to legal services and, for the first time, will incorporate peer support.
	The Ministry of Justice continues to provide separate funding to organisations who provide emotional, practical and specialist peer support for families bereaved prior to the establishment of the national Homicide Service in 2010.

Human Rights Act 1998

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on reform of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Green: I have not received any recent representations on the reform of the Human Rights Act 1998. The coalition agreement makes it clear that there will be no major changes to the human rights framework before the election.

Low Newton Prison

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Low Newton spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Simon Hughes: Up until the end of 2011-2012, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.
	Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-2010 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-2012 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-2011 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-2013, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in relation to offences under section 57 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 in each of the last 10 years.

Shailesh Vara: Data for offences under Section 57 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 are not reported centrally to the Ministry of Justice. This information may be held by the individual courts in England and Wales and as such it can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Simon Hughes: At present we do not have any publishable performance markings data for 2013-14. The data you have requested will form part of the 2013-14 equalities report which will be published in November 2014.

Personal Injury: Compensation

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what plans he has to reduce the statute of limitations for whiplash claims;
	(2)  what representations his Department has received on reducing the statute of limitations on whiplash claims since May 2010.

Shailesh Vara: The Government considered the recommendation to reduce the three year limitation period for soft tissue personal injury claims made by the Transport Committee in its whiplash report of 15 July 2013. While the recommendation was not taken forward at that time, the Government remains committed to cutting the cost of whiplash and is willing to consider proposals that will achieve that aim.

Prisoners

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Exeter spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Forest Bank spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(3)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Ford spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(4)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Featherstone spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(5)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Feltham spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisoners

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Durham spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Edmonds Hill spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(3)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Elmley spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the front-line of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisoners

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Deerbolt spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which information is available;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Chelmsford spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which information is available;
	(3)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Coldingley spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which information is available;
	(4)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Cookham Wood spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which information is available;
	(5)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Dartmoor spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which information is available.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the front-line of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisoners: Deaths

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people died in (a) on adult and (b) youth custody in each year since 2010; what their age was at the time of death; whether each such person was on (A) remand and (B) serving a custodial sentence of what length; which offence each such person was convicted; what the offence they were convicted of; and what the cause of death was in each case.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is committed to open and transparent reporting of data relating to deaths in custody, self-harm and assaults. It remains a priority to reduce the number of deaths and violence in custody. Prisons take the responsibility of keeping prisoners, staff and visitors safe extremely seriously.
	Strenuous efforts are made to learn from each death and improve our understanding and procedures for caring for prisoners. Each death is subject to a thorough investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, in addition to a Coroner's inquest.
	Central deaths in custody records do not specifically include information on those who die in ‘adult’ or ‘youth’ custody. Where a site is shared between a Young Offender Institute and an adult prison, records are not held to identify in which part of the site the deceased was detained. However, information based on the offenders’ ages at the time of death has been provided.
	The National Offender Management Service makes a provisional classification of death based on apparent cause and records may change following inquest.
	A range of statistics on deaths in prison custody is published annually in the Safety in Custody statistical bulletin supplementary tables on deaths with updates on the number of deaths of prison custody published quarterly. This bulletin is published at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics.
	The overall numbers of deaths in prison custody by age group are shown in table 1.
	
		
			 Table 1: Deaths in custody by age group 
			  2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Total 198 192 192 215 
			 15-20 year olds 4 8 4 5 
			 21 year olds and older 194 184 188 210 
		
	
	The numbers of these deaths that were (a) on remand and (b) sentence length, the offence and cause of death have been placed in the Library in the House. There were 74 self-inflicted deaths in custody in 2013, compared to 96 in 2004.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many foreign national prisoners were repatriated to their home countries to serve their custodial sentence in each year since 2010;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners were repatriated under foreign prisoner transfer agreements to their home countries to serve their custodial sentence in each year since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: The following table sets out the number of prisoners who have transferred from a prison in England and Wales to a prison in their state of nationality since 1 January 2009.
	
		
			  Transfers 
			 2009 41 
			 2010 46 
			 2011 33 
			 2012 40 
			 2013 43 
		
	
	The list includes one foreign national prisoner who was returned to a British Overseas Territory in 2011 under the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884.
	We remain determined to secure compulsory Prisoner Transfer Agreements wherever possible, in order to increase the number of foreign national prisoners who are able to transfer to prisons in their home countries. In January this year we signed a compulsory transfer agreement with Nigeria and last year we signed an agreement with Albania. We expect to see prisoner transfers to both these countries before the end of this year.
	We are also working hard to increase the number of foreign nationals who are removed from prison under the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) and the Tariff Expired Removal Scheme (TERS). In 2013, we removed nearly 2,000 FNOs under ERS and under TERS, which we introduced in May 2012, we have removed 256 prisoners to date.
	The numbers reported here are drawn from a Prison Service Case Tracking System. Care is taken when processing these cases but the figures may be subject to inaccuracies associated with any recording system.
	Whereas this Government has begun to reduce the foreign national population in prison since 2010, between 1997 and 2010, the number of foreign nationals in our prisons more than doubled.

Prisons

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Stocken spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Stoke Heath spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(3)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Swaleside spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(4)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Sudbury spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24-hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully whilst they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Sutton Park spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Eastwood Park spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners was in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Simon Hughes: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.
	Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-13, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Littlehey spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(2)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Lindholme spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(3)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Lincoln spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14;
	(4)  how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Long Lartin spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working was by prisoners in that prison in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24-hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully whilst they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons: Employment

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison (a) Rye Hill, (b) Rochester, (c) Risley, (d) Reading, (e) Huntercombe and (f) Ranby spent in (i) cells and (ii) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of prisoners in each such prison were classed as unemployed on the most recent date for which data is available.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners.
	In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	ixhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on hours worked during 2013-14 is scheduled for publication on 31 July.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons: Employment

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison (a) Albany, (b) Ashfield, (c) Ashwell, (d) Askham Grange and (e) Buckley Hall spent in (i) cells and (ii) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of prisoners in each such prison were classed as unemployed on the most recent date for which data is available.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners.
	In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on hours worked during 2013-14 is scheduled for publication on 31 July 2014.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons: Employment

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison (a) Wymott, (b) Kirklevington and (c) Holme House spent (i) in cells and (ii) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of prisoners in each such prison were classed as unemployed on the most recent date for which data is available.

Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners.
	In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on hours worked during 2013-14 is scheduled for publication on 31 July.
	Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Prisons: Interpreters

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on professional interpretation services by each prison in England and Wales in 2013; and on how many occasions such interpretation services were used in each prison in 2013.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice language services contract commenced on the 31 October 2011 and went live operationally in January 2012. The new interpreting contract was introduced to tackle the inefficiencies and inconsistencies in the previous system and saved taxpayers £15 million in its first year. We have seen dramatic improvements over the life of the contract so far, with performance currently at 94% success rate, record numbers of bookings are now being made and fulfilled, and we continue to drive further improvement in performance.
	The number of occasions on which interpretation services were used, and the total cost of these for each prison in 2013, can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Prison Number of jobs Total cost (£) 
			 HMP Shepton Mallet NOMS - Prisons 1 37.30 
			 HMP Sudbury NOMS - Prisons 1 165.75 
			 HMP Bedford 151 2,307.40 
			 HMP Belmarsh 274 88,467.31 
			 HMP Blundeston 10 254.86 
			 HMP Brixton 27 2,488.47 
			 HMP Bure 4 646.30 
			 HMP Cardiff 34 211.13 
			 HMP Dartmoor 4 402.55 
			 HMP Elmley 23 796.05 
			 HMP Erlestoke 3 1,611.97 
			 HMP Frankland 136 25,122.43 
			 HMP Guys Marsh 13 802.64 
			 HMP Haverigg 10 454.78 
			 HMP Hewell 61 858.92 
			 HMP Highpoint 48 2,220.03 
			 HMP Holme House 34 1,220.84 
			 HMP Leeds 108 1,449.70 
			 HMP Leyhill 3 314.74 
			 HMP Lindholme 18 2,356.99 
			 HMP Lindholme Learning Centre 2 1,110.90 
			 HMP Littlie 13 340.70 
			 HMP Liverpool 99 2,919.94 
			 HMP Long Lartin 148 182,180.50 
			 HMP Manchester 635 50,444.73 
			 HMP Manchester - Public Protection 1 101.76 
			 HMP Manchester - Security 2 223.74 
			 HMP Norwich 403 3,956.21 
			 HMP Pentonville 355 13,976.57 
			 HMP Ranby 56 1,232.89 
			 HMP Send 22 6,838.05 
			 HMP Stocken 6 165.27 
			 HMP Sudbury 5 1,835.27 
			 HMP Swaleside 13 2,015.00 
			 HMP Swansea 70 1,004.74 
			 HMP Usk and Prescoed 51 10,967.74 
			 HMP Wandsworth 848 114,603.82 
			 HMP Wellingborough 1 58.00 
			 HMP Whatton 215 53,315.58 
			 HMP Woodhill 270 4,613.79 
			 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 133 1,913.12 
			 HMPOI Aylesbury 2 94.65 
			 HMPYOI Foston Hall 17 413.64 
			 HMPYOI Hindley 76 1,164.26 
			 HMPYOI Holloway 622 6,280.04 
			 HMPYOI Lewes 33 412.99 
			 HMPYOI Low Newton 112 1,573.07 
			 HMPYOI Moorland 120 9,226.49 
			 HMPYOI New Hall 189 5,480.24 
			 HMPYOI Reading 85 5,259.40 
			 HMYOI Portland 34 1,803.30 
			 Prison Service College 82 27,913.31 
			 HMP Acklington/Castington 20 221.37 
			 IRC Dover 1149 9,902.50 
			 HMP Durham 73 471.58 
			 HMP Hull 23 743.00 
			 HMP Huntercombe 123 5,065.04 
		
	
	
		
			 IRC Morton Hall 2762 44,677.50 
			 HMP Nottingham 169 1,867.61 
			 HMP Wakefield 163 107,301.70 
			 HMPYOI Warren Hill 16 431.49 
			 HMP Whitemoor 92 30,026.31 
			 HMP Wymott 25 1,157.87 
			 HMP Isle of Wight 10 1,228.67 
			 HMP YOI Isis 14 1,101.08 
			 Offender Safety, Rights & Responsibilities Group 282 92,537.70 
			 HMPYOI Brinsford 148 1,462.78 
			 HMP Bristol 49 428.42 
			 HMP Bullwood Hall 28 7,846.42 
			 HMP Canterbury 14 152.28 
			 HMYOI Chelmsford 163 2,672.87 
			 HMYOI Deerbolt 90 1,013.15 
			 HMP Dorchester 21 183.41 
			 HMPYOI Downview 17 341.50 
			 HMPYOI Drake Hall 136 1,150.58 
			 HMP Eastwood Park 422 3,591.42 
			 HMP Featherstone 37 554.06 
			 HMYOI Feltham 284 2,910.20 
			 HMP Gartree 12 210.45 
			 HMYOI/RC Glen Parva 132 1,381.49 
			 HMP Gloucester 15 134.67 
			 IRC Haslar 1121 11,545.50 
			 HMYOI Lancaster Farms 42 420.75 
			 HMP Leicester 75 1,064.05 
			 HMP Lincoln 103 1,241.73 
			 HMP Maidstone 8 193.36 
			 HMP Preston 52 650.34 
			 HMP Risley 73 2,030.13 
			 HMP Shrewsbury 3 15.06 
			 HMYOI Styal 113 1,243.83 
			 HMP The Verne 20 322.28 
			 HMP Wayland 6 64.52 
			 HMYOI Wetherby 42 798.14 
			 HMP Winchester 66 1,891.31 
			 HMP Exeter 43 384.50 
			 HMP High Down 35 244.37 
			 Hounslow Junior Attendance Centre 4 34.22 
			 HMP Buckley Hall 1 36.00 
			 HMP Bullingdon 16 467.50 
			 HMP Onley 11 67.04 
			 HMPYOI Swinfen Hall 4 33.94 
			 Equalities Group 1 1.29 
			 London (Romford) Junior Attendance Centre 23 263.44 
			 Bournemouth Junior Attendance Centre 1 10.20 
			 HMYOI Werrington 20 246.41 
			 HMP Kennet 4 13.34 
			 HMPYOI Northallerton 8 71.75 
			 HMYOI Rochester 12 140.22 
			 Cricklewood Junior Attendance Centre 1 5.26 
			 HMP Full Sutton 28 2,540.22 
			 HMP Stafford 2 28.20 
			 HMP Wealstun 3 19.14 
			 HMP Ford 1 62.82 
			 HMYOI Stoke Heath 9 104.18 
			 South London Greenwich Senior Attendance Centre 1 28.60 
			 HMP Everthorpe 3 28.40 
			 Essex Junior Attendance Centre (Wickford) 1 0.77 
			 Fulham Junior Attendance Centre 1 11.75 
			 Hertford Junior Attendance Centre 1 232.80 
			 HMPYOI Askham Grange 1 1.74 
		
	
	
		
			 HMP The Mount 5 137.68 
			 Assisted Prison Visits Unit 1 940.63 
			 HMP Garth 1 6.88 
			 Total 14,138 994,041.28 
		
	
	The costs for the provision of language services detailed in the table provided vary dependent upon the nature of the service used, and the length of the assignment. These services may include, Face to Face interpreters including provision for the deaf and deafblind, Telephone Interpreters and Written Translations.

Reoffenders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the reoffending rates of prisoners held in each prison was in each of the last 10 years.

Jeremy Wright: Statistics on proven re-offending for adult offenders in England and Wales released from custody, by individual prison, are published on a quarterly basis by the Ministry of Justice in the “Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin”. The latest figures, covering the period July 2011 to June 2012, can be found in Tables 22a (for offenders released from custodial sentences of less than 12 months) and 22b (for offenders released from custodial sentences of 12 months or more) at the following link:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/proven-reoffending-statistics-quarterly-statistics-july-2011-to-june-2012
	Note that tables 22a and 22b provide proven re-offending data for adult offenders released from custody between 2007 and the 12 months ending June 2012. Data, for this particular breakdown, are not available prior to 2007.
	The Transforming Rehabilitation programme for England and Wales is changing the way offenders are managed in the community in order to bring down reoffending rates while continuing to protect the public.

Secure Colleges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what criteria a decision will be made to place a child into a secure college.

Jeremy Wright: The Youth Justice Board, with proper consideration of the individual needs of young people and advice from Youth Offending Teams, currently decides the most appropriate establishment in which to place individual young people remanded or sentenced to custody. This will remain the case when there is the option of placement in a Secure College.

Styal Prison

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Styal spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per week spent working by prisoners in that prison was in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

Simon Hughes: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours during each weekday when prisoners cells were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell.
	Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
	Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day to day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Indicators introduced into prison service learning agreements in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
	Work in prisons is a key priority to make sure that prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release which is a key element to reducing reoffending.
	The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda in 2012-13, which is the first year when they were required to supply figures, private sector prisons reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running by performing tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
	The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.

Unpaid Fines

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to credit check people with unpaid court fines.

Shailesh Vara: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service regularly check the details of offenders who have outstanding financial impositions against a credit reference agency database as part of the standard process of enforcing financial court orders.

Victim Support Schemes

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his strategy is for supporting victims of crime.

Damian Green: The Government is committed to providing more support than ever to victims of crime, and giving them a louder voice in the criminal justice system. We have implemented a new Victims’ Code that tells people what to expect at every stage of the process. We’re aiming to spend up to £100 million-more than ever before-to support victims to cope and, where possible, recover from the effects of crime.

Witnesses: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to record the number of children summoned to give evidence in court.

Damian Green: Witnesses will only usually be summoned to give evidence as a last resort; most witnesses give evidence as a result of a request. Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service does not hold data on the number of child witnesses summoned to give evidence in court. A summons will be requested by the police, the CPS or the defence.

TREASURY

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Andrea Leadsom: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award:
	www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
	In addition, Departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000.
	HM Treasury and its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies do not hold any current contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Employment

Andrew Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will estimate the additional receipts accruing to the Exchequer as a result of changes in levels of employment since May 2010.

David Gauke: The information requested is not available.

Environment Protection: Taxation

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish guidance for applicants for compensation for the indirect costs of the carbon price floor and begin making compensatory payments to eligible businesses.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Guidance for applicants will be published this month and payments to eligible businesses will commence shortly thereafter.

Export Control Order 2008

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions under the Export Control Order 2008 have taken place in each year since 2008.

David Gauke: There has been one prosecution/conviction under the Export Control Order 2008 since 2008, however there have been a number of successful prosecutions under other export control legislation. Details of those prosecutions can be found in the annual reports on strategic export controls in the House of Commons Library. The report for the most recent complete year (2013- 2014) is due to be published in mid-July.

Lloyds Bank: TSB

Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role his Department played in the decision to separate Lloyds and TSB.

Andrea Leadsom: Lloyds Banking Group is required to divest part of its UK banking business—TSB—as a result of European Commission approval of the aid it received from the UK Government during the financial crisis.
	The TSB divestment was part of a wider package of measures to ensure that the recapitalisation of Lloyds was compliant with the single market. The State aid agreement is therefore between HM Government and Lloyds, and between the Government and the European Commission.

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 197W, on Mapeley, whether HM Revenue and Customs reviewed these commercial provisions following the raising of financial concerns by Mapeley in November 2001.

David Gauke: There have been no material changes to the relevant commercial provisions in the STEPS contract. A copy of the contract can be viewed on the National Archive website at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/freedom/steps-contract.htm

Revenue and Customs

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been made about HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The following table shows the number of complaints received by HM Revenue and Customs (excluding the VOA) for each of the years 2009/10–2013/14. The figure for 2013/14 will be included in the HMRC annual report that is due to be published on the 3 July 2014.
	
		
			  Number of complaints 
			 2009/10 71,406 
			 2010/11 76,721 
			 2011/12 74,831 
			 2012/13 67,956 
			 2013/14 64,729

Self-employed

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 600-601W, on the self-employed, what proportion of the working age population in each region are classed as individuals with self-employment sources.

David Gauke: As provided in my answer on 17 June 2014, estimates of the numbers of individuals with self employment sources for each region of the UK in the year 2011-12 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Region Number of Self-employed(Thousand) 
			 North East 158 
			 North West and Merseyside 497 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 402 
			 East Midlands 352 
			 West Midlands 418 
			 East of England 556 
			 London 883 
			 South East 844 
			 South West 559 
			 Wales 240 
			 Scotland 368 
			 Northern Ireland 177 
			 Address abroad 34 
			 All UK 5,490 
		
	
	These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for 2011-12 which is the latest year available.
	Estimates of the UK population by country, region and age are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Information at country level is published at the following address:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-318453
	Information for each region within England is published at the following address:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-335242

Tax Avoidance

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 39W, on Tax Avoidance, what recent assessment the Government has made of the prevalence of public sector organisations being engaged in tax evasion or tax avoidance.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) resources to risk and has a continuous programme of work assuring tax compliance in the public (and private) sector. Since 2008 there has been a dedicated operational unit whose aim is to treat the public sector in the same way as HMRC treats similar customers, including taking a tough line in dealing with any avoidance or evasion.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of Government subsidies for the generation of biomass power using domestic wood feed stocks on the UK’s wood panel industry; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: At the request of the wood panel industry, the Department carried out an analysis of domestic wood use by biomass generating stations, both through their returns on actual use under the sustainability reporting requirements of the renewables obligation and through the forecasts large scale generators provided to the Department as part of a voluntary exercise. Generators provided information on the amount of domestic and imported woody biomass that is likely to be used for electricity generation up to 2017. We published the aggregated results of last years’ analysis at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246006/UK_wood_and_biomass.pdf
	These data support the Department’s initial estimates of the amount of UK biomass that is expected to be used for electricity generation up to 2017 (of between 2.5 and 3.5 million oven dried tonnes (modt)). Use of UK biomass for electricity has remained stable over the 2009-12 period at between 2.3 and 2.5 modt (of which: between 1.3 and 1.6 modt was wood).
	We intend to repeat this exercise this year.

Carbon Emissions

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of carbon reduction targets on jobs in the wood panelling sector.

Gregory Barker: The Government is committed to ensuring that industrial sectors maintain their competitiveness during the transition to a low-carbon economy, and continue to invest and provide employment in the UK. We have recognised the additional costs that climate and energy policies can place on energy-intensive industries, including the wood panelling sector, and announced a range of new measures in Budget 2014 to radically reduce these costs, in addition to the compensation measures already in place.

Energy: Prices

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to make changes to mandatory green energy charges on consumer bills; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: We have recently consulted on proposed changes to the energy company obligation and expect to announce our response shortly. These proposed changes form part of the package of measures announced in December last year that has led to reductions this year of around £50 on the average household bill. We have no plans to make further changes.

Fracking

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that the distribution of shale gas community benefit funds go to those households closest to potential drilling sites.

Michael Fallon: We have welcomed a package of community benefits that was put forward by industry. It is encouraging that industry will offer £100,000 per fractured well site during exploration, so communities can benefit early, as well as 1% of revenues at production.
	The UK Onshore Operators Group has provided more information about the community benefits scheme and will be partnering with the UK Communities Foundation for two pilot schemes during the exploration stage. The UK Communities Foundation will work with local residents to use the funding according to their needs and priorities. UKOOG also announced further consultation on payments at production stage.

Fracking

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to which locations pending applications for hydraulic fracturing relate.

Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 426W:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140630/text/140630w0004.htm#1407011000033

Fuels

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what strategic level his Department has agreed with industry for the amount of motor gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel products required to meet the compulsory stock obligations.

Michael Fallon: EU member states are required under EU Directive 2009/119/EC to hold oil stocks at the higher of 90 days of average net daily imports or 61 days of average daily inland consumption in order to mitigate a substantial supply disruption. At present, the UK is obligated at 61 days of average daily inland consumption. The UK meets this obligation by directing substantial suppliers of oil products to the UK market to hold stocks.
	In order to meet the requirements of EU Directive, the UK requires that at least one-third of this obligation is held by industry in the form of gas/diesel oil, motor gasoline and Kerosene-type jet fuel.

Fuels

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion as a percentage of the compulsory stock obligations for motor gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel products are currently being held physically on the UK mainland; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Obligated companies in the UK are required to hold at least one-third of their obligation as finished products of petrol, diesel and jet-fuel. The remaining two-thirds of the obligation can be met with a wider range of oil products and crude oil, known as ‘Any Oil’, potentially including additional stocks of petrol, diesel and jet-fuel. Companies are able to hold stocks both in the UK and in facilities within the European Union.
	In April 2014 in total companies held 104% of the obligation for finished products of petrol in the UK, while for jet fuel this was 96% and diesel 78%. The higher figure for petrol is a result of stocks of this product also being held by obligated companies in the UK toward the ‘Any Oil’ obligation.

Fuels: Prices

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the reasons for the variation in average unit retail price of petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: No formal assessment has been made of the reasons for the variation in average unit retail prices of petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
	Retail fuel prices are determined by the demand and supply fundamentals in local areas. Prices will reflect the underlying cost of crude oil, the process to refine it and transport it so that it is available for consumption at the pump.
	Variations in prices are determined by changes in supply and demand factors both for crude oil and for individual products.
	On 5 September 2012, the OFT launched a call for information (CFI) to investigate claims that the UK petrol and diesel sectors are not working well. In their January 2013 report they concluded that:
	“Overall, on the basis of the evidence collected, it appears that competition in the UK road fuels sector is working relatively effectively”.

Green Deal Scheme

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average turnaround is on applications for funding under the Green Deal scheme.

Gregory Barker: Applications made to the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund which comply with the scheme terms and conditions will typically be turned around and a voucher issued within five working days. Vouchers are redeemable once the customer has completed their installation of energy saving home improvements.

Renewable Energy: Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss (a) solar energy and (b) other alternative energies with his Egyptian counterpart.

Gregory Barker: The UK Government engages with Egypt on a series of renewable technologies, including solar, through multilateral forms such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). We also provide some technical assistance, through the World Bank, to help Egypt diversify their energy sources.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of domestic renewable heat incentive applications that have been received from (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland since April 2014.

Gregory Barker: Since the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) launched on 9 April this year, up until the end of May, Ofgem had received 2,296 applications in total from applicants in England, Wales and Scotland.
	Due to the infancy of the scheme, analysis is not currently provided at country level, however, this breakdown will be presented in our next monthly renewable heat incentive and renewable heat premium payment statistics to be published on 24 July. These data will be available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-heat-incentive-renewable-heat-premium-payment-statistics
	The Domestic RHI scheme is open only to those living in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland is planning to introduce its own equivalent scheme to support domestic renewable heat generation shortly.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the number of domestic renewable heat incentive applications received since April 2014; and how many such applications have been turned down because they did not meet minimum insulation standards.

Gregory Barker: Since the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme launched on 9 April this year, up until the end of May, Ofgem had received 2,296 applications to join the scheme.
	Whether or not an application meets the minimum insulation standard is determined using information from the Energy Performance Certificate of the property. Currently, Ofgem do not record data on applicants that are not eligible for the scheme due to not meeting minimum insulation standards, as this check precedes an applicant completing a full application.

Universal Credit

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to the warm home discount to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out.

Gregory Barker: The warm home discount is funded by energy suppliers, rather than Government, with scheme spending controlled through the levy control framework. We have committed to a warm home discount spending target of £320 million in 2015-16. We will consult shortly on scheme rules for that year, including the eligibility criteria and the value of the rebate (which is set at £140 in 2014-15). We expect to see the scheme continue to support more than 2 million households per year.
	The introduction of universal credit does not in itself imply any significant changes to the operation of the warm home discount. We estimate that 8 million people will be in receipt of universal credit once it has been fully rolled out to all benefit claimants. Any policy decision taken to extend entitlement to warm home discount to all universal credit recipients would need to be accompanied by a decision on the value of the rebate. Overall scheme costs would, broadly speaking, be the number of eligible households multiplied by the value of the rebate.

Warm Front Scheme: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many (a) single-pensioner households in York and (b) two-pensioner households in York have received Warm Front assistance in each year since the inception of that scheme; and what the average spend has been on each such household;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on the Warm Front scheme in York local authority area in each year since the inception of that scheme.

Gregory Barker: The last year of the Warm Front Scheme was 2012-13. There has been no further change in the Warm Front figures for York local authority area since my answer to the hon. Member on 9 July 2013.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many children in poverty lived in a household that did not receive a Warm Home Discount in 2013-14.

Gregory Barker: Under the “broader group” schemes offered by suppliers participating within the Warm Home Discount, considerable assistance is offered to vulnerable groups such as low-income families and those with long-term illnesses and disabilities. In scheme year 3 (2013-14) all seven participating suppliers (British Gas, EDF, E.On, First Utility, N Power, Scottish Power and SSE) made broader group support open to low-income families with children aged under five years.
	We expect around 600,000 broader group rebates worth £135 to have been provided in 2013-14. However, final figures for the number of such payments will be published in Ofgem’s annual scheme report in the autumn.
	Participating energy suppliers are not required to provide the Government with a breakdown of the payments made to different groups of customers. As a result, we cannot calculate how many low income families received the Warm Home Discount, nor how many did not.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department expects to consult on the future of the Warm Home Discount.

Gregory Barker: Last year, we announced a new £320 million spending commitment for the Warm Home Discount in 2014-15. We intend to consult on the future operation of the scheme in due course.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what comparative assessment his Department has made of the level of broadband coverage in (a) the UK and (b) other major European nations.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom’s European Broadband Scorecard
	http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/telecoms-research/bbresearch/scorecard-14
	stated in figure 8 that the percentages of households in areas served by broadband were:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Standard broadband Mobile broadband Superfast broadband 
			 United Kingdom 95-100 95-100 70-75 
			 France 95-100 95-100 20-25 
			 Germany 95-100 90-95 65-70 
			 Spain 95-100 95-100 60-65 
			 Italy 95-100 95-100 10-15 
		
	
	Ofcom also publishes comparative information in its International Communications Market Report
	http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/cmr13/international/

Cinemas

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of cinemas in operation in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each year between 1997 and 2010.

Edward Vaizey: The table shows the number of cinemas in operation in the four nations from 2002 to 2010. Please note that no data is available for the period before 2002:
	
		
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 England 531 494 508 526 552 580 588 586 574 
			 Wales 23 21 23 23 23 23 24 25 27 
			 Scotland 57 52 52 51 63 65 61 63 63 
			 Northern Ireland 52 48 57 55 55 54 48 46 48 
			 Channel Islands 4 4 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 
			 Isle of Man 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Total 668 620 644 659 697 727 726 724 716 
			 Source: Dodona Research

Educational Testing Service

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) each of his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation's subsidiaries.

Helen Grant: The Department does not hold any contracts with the Educational Testing Service or any of its subsidiaries. We do not hold information centrally on our executive agency or non-departmental public bodies.

Film

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of films made in the UK as co-productions with foreign companies in each year since 1997.

Edward Vaizey: The number of films made in the UK as co-productions with foreign companies is recorded in the BFI’s Statistical Yearbook and set out in the following table. Data are not available for the period before 2002 and do not include the numbers of inward investment which are substantially financed and controlled from outside the UK and which are attracted to the UK by factors including the UK’s filmmaking infrastructure and film tax relief. An international co-production is where a film is produced by more than one production company from more than one country.
	
		
			  Number of films made 
			 2002 66 
			 2003 106 
			 2004 105 
			 2005 67 
			 2006 53 
			 2007 33 
			 2008 29 
			 2009 38 
			 2010 34 
			 2011 47 
			 2012 40 
			 Source: BFI

HMS Victory

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what background checks his Department undertook on Lord Lingfield's charitable foundation before the transfer of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744.

Edward Vaizey: Following the 2010 public consultation on options for the management of the wreck site of HMS Victory 1744 it was decided to place responsibility for the future management of the site on a charitable trust. The Maritime Heritage Foundation (MHF) was a newly formed charity and its objectives ‘to recover, preserve and display in public museums, to promote knowledge and understanding of our maritime heritage through educational projects’ were considered to be well suited for the management of the wreck site. No additional checks were made because the MHF is a registered charity under the auspices of the Charity Commission and subject to its rules and regulations.

Memorials Grant Scheme

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department gave to the Memorials Grant Scheme in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: DCMS has given the amounts set out from the Memorial Grant Scheme in each of the last 10 years:
	
		
			  Funding MGS (£) 
			 2013-14 529,000 
			 2012-13 269,000 
			 2011-12 334,000 
			 2010-11 229,000 
			 2009-10 230,000 
			 2008-09 391,000 
			 2007-08 854,000 
			 2006-07 714,000 
			 2005-06 130,000 
			 2004-05 n/a

Monuments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department (a) spent in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on maintaining national memorials; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: DCMS has spent the following amounts in each of the last 10 years maintaining national memorials:
	
		
			  Spend (£) 
			 2013-14 529,000 
			 2012-13 269,000 
			 2011-12 334,000 
			 2010-11 229,000 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 230,000 
			 2008-09 391,000 
			 2007-08 854,000 
			 2006-07 714,000 
			 2005-06 130,000 
			 2004-05 n/a 
		
	
	The DCMS-run Memorial Grant Scheme has a budget of £543,000 for this financial year. Grants are available to charities and faith groups, and can be used to repair and maintain war memorials. The Government has today announced that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Helen Grant: The table sets out the percentage of employees, within each performance category, who have declared a disability, and the percentage of all other staff in each performance category for the 2013-14 reporting year for assessments received to date. The percentage of all other staff includes staff who have either explicitly declared that they do not have a disability, have chosen the ‘prefer not to say’ option, or have not responded to the question at all.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Excellent Good Must improve 
			 Percentage of employees who have declared a disability in each performance rating 1 4 0 
			 Percentage of all other staff employed in each performance rating 35 58 2 
		
	
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) takes seriously its obligations to collect diversity data as required by the Equality Act 2010. All staff have been asked to provide personal diversity data to be held anonymously, and we continue to encourage increased declaration by staff. As such these figures will not be fully representative of workforce diversity.

World War I: Anniversaries

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure a suitable commemoration of the First World War; and if he will support the Royal Sussex Regiment Association's efforts for a memorial to be erected in Priez, France.

Helen Grant: The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with an appropriate programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects across 2014-18. It is fitting that organisations such as the Royal Sussex Regiment Association are seeking to commemorate the centenary in ways which are meaningful for them.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which overseas organisations funded by her Department restrict employment to members of particular faiths.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID does not fund any organisation that state they specifically restrict employment to members of particular faiths. However, we acknowledge that certain posts require a particular understanding of the faith-based values and beliefs of individual organisations.

Developing Countries

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's policy in funding overseas organisations that restict their employment to members of particular faiths.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID works to ensure that organisations supported do not discriminate. All DFID funding is subject to pre funding Due Diligence, which includes an analysis of the robustness of the organisation’s operational and commercial systems, processes and procedures, including compliance with relevant policies, legislation and regulations on discrimination.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding her Department has allocated to the (a) International Planned Parenthood Federation and (b) United Nations Population Fund in each year since 2009.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID provided International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) with £9 million of funding for the period 2010-11, £8.6 million during 2011-12 and £8.6 million during 2012-13. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was provided with £20 million each year for the period 2010-11 to 2012-13.
	Details of further historical funding can be found in Table 18 and 19 of the Statistics on International Development (SID) which are available in the Library of the House.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what help the Government is giving to Egypt to source gas and oil fields.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government does not provide direct support to the oil and gas sector in Egypt.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterpart on structural reform in Egypt to improve employment opportunities.

Alan Duncan: UK officials recently met the Egyptian Finance Minister, who outlined his plans for structural economic reform. The UK supports these reforms, and is providing technical advice through the World Bank to tackle some of these challenges.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Egyptian Government on creating job opportunities for people under 30.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government regularly engages with Egyptian Ministries on the need to promote job creation, particularly for young people. The UK is supporting projects to reform the vocational and technical education sector, to increase access to finance, develop entrepreneurship skills and target microfinance support to women in rural areas.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to support the introduction of green tourism in Egypt.

Alan Duncan: Green tourism is supported by many of the international development institutions in Egypt in which the UK is a stakeholder, including the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Israel on the need for negotiations with Egypt to develop agriculture in that country.

Alan Duncan: No such discussions have taken place.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she plans to take in conjunction with the Egyptian government to develop the Nile delta for the production of food.

Alan Duncan: DFID has no specific programmes to develop the Nile delta for the production of food.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to increase the number of women in the Egyptian political system.

Alan Duncan: Following the low number of women elected to the previous Parliament, the UK funded a project to support over 700 women with the skills and knowledge to run for local office in council elections, as a stepping stone to parliamentary representation. This also included civic education on the role of women in political life.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking with her Egyptian counterpart to reduce the level of poverty in Egypt.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government provides technical assistance, directed through International Financial Institutions, to tackle Egypt’s economic challenges. One example of UK support is the development of a database of 10 million poor households, which the Egyptian Government can use to target cash transfers towards the poorest. The UK is also funding projects that target marginalised communities, particularly women and girls in rural Egypt, providing them with access to finance and vocational training.

Egypt

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government has offered support to the Egyptian Government to help establish the Egyptian Parliament.

Alan Duncan: The UK has supported the preparation of parliamentary by-laws and helped to build the capacity of the parliamentary secretariat staff in respect of committees, the library and research sections, and the media unit.

Occupied Territories

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of Area C of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is covered by approved masterplans.

Alan Duncan: Palestinian masterplans developed by the International Peace and Cooperation Centre (IPCC) cover approximately 0.4% of Area C. To date, only two of these have been approved.

Palestinians

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the masterplans funded by her Department in Area C of the Occupied Palestinian Territory have received full approval by the Israeli government; and how long the approval process took in each case.

Alan Duncan: Only two of the 32 UK-funded masterplans have received full approval so far. The process to gain approval took approximately 27 months for each. We are urging the Government of Israel to accelerate the approval of the other plans in order to allow the development of Palestinian communities in Area C without the risk of demolition.

Palestinians

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the construction of the first infrastructure project funded by her Department in Area C of the Occupied Palestinian Territory will commence.

Alan Duncan: DFID and our partners are currently engaging with the Israeli authorities in order to accelerate the approval of UK-funded masterplans for Palestinian communities in Area C. These Palestinian plans provide the basis for sustainable development in Area C and reduce the risk of demolition. We continue to consider the full range of measures to continue our support for Palestinians in Area C.

Palestinians

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of food, fuel and medical supplies entering Gaza each day.

Alan Duncan: Israeli movement and access restrictions, exacerbated by the closure of illegal smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, have led to serious shortages of fuel and medical supplies and have driven up the price of food. 71% of households in Gaza are either food insecure or vulnerable to food insecurity. The World Health Organisation estimates that 29% of drugs are at zero stock (less than one month’s supply). Due to severe shortages of fuel, Gaza’s power plant operates at half its capacity, triggering power outages of up to 12 hours per day and sometimes shutting down completely.

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by her Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Alan Duncan: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			 Rating Staff with a disability Staff without a disability Staff who have not declared if they have a disability or not 
			 Box one 19 26 29 
			 Box two 72 67 65 
			 Box three 9 7 6

West Africa

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is offering countries in West Africa affected by the ebola virus to remedy the situation.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government has contributed £683,601 to the Ebola Virus Disease in the West African Region. Through the UK’s global multilateral contributions we are supporting a regional containment strategy and in addition, strengthening the outbreak response in Sierra Leone and Liberia through bilateral assistance.
	In Sierra Leone, DFID funds will be used to support improved coordination at the national level; training and equipping of health workers to competently manage Ebola cases; improved EVD case detection and supporting appropriate radio messaging and community mobilisation activities on EVD prevention and control in affected districts. In Liberia, DFID has provided chlorine and other materials for hygiene and sanitising; and training in their appropriate use. DFID programmes are ready to respond to further requests from implementing partners as appropriate. We are closely monitoring the outbreak from Sierra Leone and Liberia and internationally through DFID headquarters. We are working with WHO and national government agencies to improve our understanding of the outbreak and help to guide the response in-country and regionally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of public footfall at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Mark Simmonds: One of the principal aims of the Global Summit was to invite members of the public to take part in the summit and to transform awareness of a taboo and often poorly understood subject. We estimate that several thousand members of the public attended the fringe events each day.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many fringe events were held during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: I refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)’s statement to the House on 16 June 2014 on the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. There were 175 fringe events during the summit, which included panel discussions and debates, theatre and performance, marketplace with products made by survivors, gallery, silent cinema, exhibitions. We estimate that several thousand members of the public attended the fringe each day. In addition, our embassies and high commissions overseas held a global fringe and hosted events for each of the 84 hours of the summit. These events challenged perceptions and encouraged policy and decision makers and the general public to engage with a subject that for too long has remained hidden.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Government Ministers, (b) non-governmental organisations and civil society groups and (c) survivors attended the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: I refer my right hon. Friend the to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to this House on 16 June 2014 on the outcomes of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. 79 Ministers and 129 country delegations were accredited for Summit, plus 950 experts from civil society, non-governmental organisations, academia, health practitioners, military and policy. Many more members of the public attended the Fringe. The FCO supported participation of the 300 grass roots and civil society activists from conflict affected countries, many of whom had direct experience of sexual violence in conflict. Other organisations who attended also had survivors as part of their delegations. Together we discussed practical action to tackle impunity for the use of sexual violence as a tactic of conflict and continued the long process of changing global attitudes to these crimes.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his future plans are for the level of staff and budget resourcing on his Department’s Ending Sexual Violence Initiative.

Mark Simmonds: The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) Team has been in place since the launch of the initiative in 2012. The team is now developing the next phase of the PSVI strategy building on the success of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, co-hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 10 to 13 June 2014. That work includes assessing the necessary future staff and budget requirements to achieve the post-summit objectives.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart seeking clarification of the actions being taken by the Colombian Government to ensure the safety of land restitution claimants in that country.

Hugo Swire: During my recent visit to Colombia from 25 to 27 June 2014, I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of the Colombian Government’s major human rights agencies. This included the National Protection Unit: the Government body that coordinates the protection of at risk groups and individuals in Colombia. I set out HM Government concern about the reported rise in attacks against human rights defenders and cases of impunity for those responsible.
	While in Bogotá, I also met representatives from six human rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Aid as well as Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs.)

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to consult with interested hon. Members before the next Ministerial visit to Colombia.

Hugo Swire: On 19 June 2014, I held a round table with Peace Brigades International UK, Justice Colombia and AB Colombia to discuss a range of issues prior to my visit to Colombia (25-27 June). The invitation was also extended to members of the Parliamentary Friends of Colombia and the All Party Parliamentary Group. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also met Martha Diaz Suarez, Director of AFUSADO (an organisation for family members of victims of extra-judicial killings), who was unable to attend the round table.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to his Department's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2014-2017, in what way, as part of the implementation of that plan, women's participation at grassroots level will be measured.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), along with the Secretaries of State for International Development and Defence, launched the 2014-2017 National Action Plan (NAP) at the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit earlier this month.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, working with Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence, is committed to ensure that the promotion of women’s participation in conflict resolution is an integral part of our overseas conflict policy and forms one of the main focuses of the NAP. The NAP outlines several ways we will do this, for example providing financial and capacity building support to civil society organisations promoting women and girls’ participation in peacebuilding.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also funded and helped to facilitate workshops in two of the NAP’s focus countries (Afghanistan and Burma) with another being held in a third (Somalia) in the next few months. The workshops have been well attended by civil society groups that, in many cases, represent the views of women from the grassroots level.
	Measuring participation of women from grassroots level is challenging; there is a lack of baseline and country-level data on women in peace and security issues. With this in mind, the UK has allocated specific funding to the external and independent monitoring and evaluation of this NAP.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the predicted cost of the implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security is in each of the next three years.

Mark Simmonds: The National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security was launched at the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit and builds on lessons to date, and address some of the challenges in the previous NAP. The NAP's Implementation Plan will be launched later this year. In line with our UN commitments on women, peace and security we will continue to address violence against women and support women’s role in building peace and promote their participation, with a particular focus on Afghanistan, Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Somalia and Syria.
	The aims of the NAP and Implementation Plan are to ensure a more coherent and effective approach to the work on Women, Peace and Security. They provide the frameworks for activities which are funded through existing departmental budgets. Those budgets include: the Conflict Pool (the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund from 2015-16), the Human Rights and Democracy Fund, the Arab Partnership Fund and Official Development Assistance-all of which help to fund the work on women, peace and security across the world.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources his Department plans to commit to the Implementation Plan for the UK's National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

Mark Simmonds: The National Action Plan (NAP) articulates our priorities on women, peace and security and is a tool to coordinate implementation of our work at the national level. It serves as a guiding policy document that is able to capture the diverse set of initiatives on this agenda taking place across our security, foreign policy and development work. The NAP’s Implementation Plan, which will be launched later this year, will be used to assess the impact of UK efforts on women, peace and security throughout the life of the NAP.
	The NAP and the Implementation Plan, which will be launched later this year, provide the framework for activities which are funded through existing departmental budgets, including: the Conflict Pool (the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund from 2015-16), the Human Rights and Democracy Fund, the Arab Partnership Fund and Official Development Assistance—all of which help to fund the work on women, peace and security across the world. We will also allocate funding for external and independent monitoring and evaluation of the NAP.

Egypt

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to his Egyptian counterpart on press freedom in that country.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a statement on 23 June expressing his concerns and urging the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency.
	The Egyptian ambassador Ashraf el-Kholy was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 23 June. FCO Political Director, Simon Gass told the Egyptian ambassador that the British Government was deeply concerned by the verdicts, along with the procedural shortcomings seen during the trials. The British ambassador to Egypt raised this issue in Cairo with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 June.
	British Ministers and diplomats will continue to urge the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression.

Israel

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the briefing notes issued by the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights dated 20 June 2014, on the legislative amendment before the Israeli Knesset relating to force-feeding and medical treatment of prisoners on hunger strike, what steps he is taking to ensure that international human rights and international humanitarian law human rights are upheld by all parties.

Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv met with an official from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office on 17 June and expressed our concern over the Bill. We are continuing to monitor developments.

Israel

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 73W, on Israel, how many complaints about differential treatment of British nationals have been made since 2010 by the UK embassy in Tel Aviv to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and on which dates.

Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have formally raised with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) mistreatment of British nationals three times since 2010. They were on 7 January 2012; 19 December 2012 and 18 March 2013. Our officials have to seek permission from the individual concerned before raising with the MFA, and not all individuals are willing to pursue this route.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to interfere in the immigration policies or procedures of another country, but does raise cases of grave concern with the MFA.

Israel

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on sanctions against Israel; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of that policy with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Hugh Robertson: We have been clear that we oppose sanctions and boycotts on Israel, and do not believe such steps would promote progress towards a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are satisfied that this position is consistent with our international obligations.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on how many of the recommendations made by UNICEF in its March 2013 report on children in Israeli military detention have been implemented by the government of Israeli; and what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on the recommendations in that report that are yet to be implemented.

Hugh Robertson: The Government has made no assessment on how many recommendations made by UNICEF have been taken forward by the Israeli authorities. However, we continue to urge the Israeli authorities to take action on the recommendations made in the UNICEF report, and the positive steps they have taken so far, and the earlier independent report by senior British lawyers. I wrote to the Israeli Attorney-General on this issue on 31 March 2014.

Kenya

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the threat level for UK visitors to Kenya.

Mark Simmonds: There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping, in Kenya. The main threat comes from extremists linked to Al Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia. Violent crime also poses a threat. Full details of our travel advice for British Nationals can be found online. The FCO keeps its travel advice under constant review.

Middle East

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often the official Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East reports back to the Quartet constituent parties; what form that reporting takes; if he will publish a URL link to published outputs of the Envoy's work; how many visits the Envoy has made to the Middle East since his appointment in June 2007; how many of these visits were to (a) Israel, (b) the West Bank Palestinian Territories and (c) the Gaza Palestinian Territories; and what the annual cost to the UK has been of supporting the office and travel of the Envoy.

Hugh Robertson: We do not collect information on how often the official Envoy of the Quartet reports back to the United Nations, the United States and Russia. The Envoy regularly reports back on his work to the European Union and its member states and we remain in close contact with him. This is in the form of meetings with Ministers and senior officials and the sharing of reports. The Office of the Quartet Representative’s website, which contains information about the published outputs of the Envoy’s work, is:
	http://www.quartetrep.org/
	We do not collect information on how many visits of the Special Envoy to the Middle East Quartet has made. This type of information is not held centrally.
	The Government does not provide any financial contribution towards maintaining the Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) or towards the Envoys travel. However, the Department for International Development (DFID) currently seconds two civil servants to the Office of the Quartet Representative in Jerusalem, the cost of which for 2013-14 was £257,885.

Middle East

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the Middle East peace process of then-Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's statement in April 2014 that kidnapping Israelis was a top priority on the agenda of Hamas and the Palestinian resistance.

Hugh Robertson: The statement made by the then-Hamas Prime Minister in April 2014 was deplorable and only serves to perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new Palestinian interim technocratic government contains no Hamas members, and has signed up to the international community's principles: non-violence, a negotiated two state solution, and an acceptance of all previous agreements and obligations, including Israel's legitimate right to exist. We now look to the new government to demonstrate these commitments through its actions as well as its words.

Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the commitment made by the UK Government in its economic pact with the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2013, what specific actions he has taken to encourage British embassies in emerging markets to promote jobs and growth in Northern Ireland.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) works to support business from across the United Kingdom. Over the last few years we have expanded our diplomatic presence in key high growth markets, which has allowed us to increase engagement and reach, including in the fastest growing cities outside major capitals. This network works for open markets and free trade conditions, promotes the UK through the GREAT campaign, and supports individual companies in pursuit of specific business opportunities.
	United Kingdom Trade and Investment works closely with Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland’s trade and investment organisation, to ensure that all our businesses have access to the full range of UKTI services, as well as the additional support provided by each of the devolved Administrations. In June 2013, the FCO organised a very successful G8 summit at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. The G8 Summit demonstrated to the global community that Northern Ireland is a first class destination for business and tourism. In October 2013 Invest Northern Ireland, working with UKTI, organised an investment conference which attracted 121 international companies. Inward investment visits for the period from October to December 2013, following both the G8 summit and the investment conference increased by 162% year-on-year.

Occupied Territories

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 710W, on Palestinians, what response Prime Minister Netanyahu's office made on the issue of demolitions in East Jerusalem or the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Hugh Robertson: Prime Minister Netanyahu's office informed our officials that demolitions take place where building has occurred without a permit from the Israeli authorities. And that—as per the Oslo accords—Israel has planning authority over these areas. They also said that they therefore have the right to evict people and demolish structures, where they consider building to have taken place illegally under Israeli law.

Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in the Israeli government about the treatment of Palestinian child detainees in Israel.

Hugh Robertson: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), raised the treatment of child detainees with the Israeli Supreme Court President during his visit to Israel in May. I wrote to the Israeli Attorney-General on this issue on 31 March 2014.

Palestinians

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK will support the request from the Palestinian Authority for an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Hugh Robertson: The UK is concerned about the situation of Palestinians in Israeli detention, and we raise this issue regularly with the Israeli authorities. However, the Palestinian Authority has not made a formal request for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address this issue.

Palestinians

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the release of Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Sha'ar and Naftali Frenkel, who were abducted in the West Bank on 12 June 2014.

Hugh Robertson: As of 30 June, we have received no reports that the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers have been released.

Palestinians

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in ensuring that Palestinian children are interrogated only in the presence of their parents and lawyers.

Hugh Robertson: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), raised the treatment of child detainees with the Israeli Supreme Court President during his visit to Israel in May.
	As a recent progress report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) indicates, Israel has taken some positive steps towards addressing the recommendations in UNICEF’s Children in Israeli Military Detention report. These include the introduction of legal obligations to inform the child’s parents of an arrest and grant them legal status to be represented in court, as well as to notify minors of their legal rights, and standard operating procedures on methods of restraint. We will continue to work, both through bilateral engagement and through the EU, to encourage Israel to take further positive steps.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped in the West Bank on 12 June 2014; and what steps he has taken to secure their release.

Hugh Robertson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 258W.

Seychelles

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in the Seychelles and the consequent effect on the UK's and International Monetary Fund's financial commitments to that country.

Mark Simmonds: Transparency International ranked Seychelles as the 47th least corrupt country globally in their 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. This was an improvement of four places from 2012. The UK does not provide direct financial assistance to Seychelles but contributes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) whose support has enabled the country to enact a comprehensive program of economic reforms since 2008. The IMF has robust systems in place to ensure the proper use of assistance given to the Government of Seychelles.

St Lucia

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when it is planned that Government Ministers from St Lucia will next visit the UK.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) hosted the UK-Caribbean Forum on 16-17 June 2014. St Lucia’s Foreign Minister attended the Forum. In line with our bilateral engagement, we will continue to explore opportunities for visits.

St Lucia

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his counterparts in St Lucia the effectiveness of the St Lucian (a) criminal justice system and (b) forensic laboratories in relation to the investigation of the Gloria Greenwood murder and prosecution of suspects.

Mark Simmonds: The FCO is supporting wider HMG efforts to build St Lucia’s judicial capacity to prosecute serious crime, including through forensic analysis training. This targeted support includes the deployment of a Crown Prosecution Service criminal justice advisor to the Eastern Caribbean. Officials will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our assistance. Last August, I raised the issues with St Lucia’s Prime Minister. More recently, St Lucia’s Foreign Minister attended the 16-17 June UK-Caribbean Forum which included a focused session on criminal justice reform. Consular officials remain in close contact with the authorities with regard to the investigation into the tragic murder of Gloria Greenwood and continue to provide full consular assistance to her family.

Sudan

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Sudan counterpart on that government's attitude towards its Christian communities.

Mark Simmonds: We regularly raise our concerns with the Government of Sudan about religious persecutions and the need to respect freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens. My officials have recently made representations to the Foreign Minister, urging the Government to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief including one’s right to follow the religion or belief of choice. This right is enshrined in international human rights law as well as in Sudan’s own 2005 Interim Constitution. We will continue to raise these issues.

Ukraine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK of the decision of the EU Council to implement restrictive measures on trade with Crimea and Sevastopol on 25 June 2014; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: According to Ukrainian official statistics approximately 1.3% of Ukraine’s total exports of goods came from Crimea in 2012. For the UK, the pro rata figure would equate to roughly £3.5 million per year. The impact of this regulation on UK-Crimea trade will depend on the amount of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol that comply with the criteria stipulated within the regulation.

CABINET OFFICE

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and over died as a consequence of a condition related to alcohol misuse in each year since 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and over died as a consequence of a condition related to alcohol misuse in each year since 2010. (202826)
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was alcohol related for persons (a) under 18 years and (b) 18 years and over in England and Wales, for each year from 2010 to 2012 (the latest year available).
	Alcohol-related deaths are reported consistently across the United Kingdom using an agreed National Statistics definition that only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption (see Box 1 below). Apart from deaths due to poisoning with alcohol (accidental, intentional or undetermined), this definition excludes any other external causes of death, such as road traffic and other accidents.
	Alcohol-related death figures for the UK, England, Wales, and regions of England, for 1991 to 2012 are available on the ONS website at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-29395
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was alcohol-related, for persons (a) under 18 years and (b) 18 years and over, England and Wales, deaths registered in each year from 2010 to 20121, 2, 3 
			 Deaths (persons) 
			 Registration year Under 18 18 and over 
			 2010 2 7,186 
			 2011 1 7,248 
			 2012 1 7,016 
			 1 Alcohol-related deaths are defined using the International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes outlined in Box 1 below. 2 Figures include deaths of non-residents. 3 Figures are based on deaths that registered, rather than deaths that occurred in each calendar year. In 2012, the median registration period for alcohol-related deaths was four days. More information about registration delays can be found on the ONS website at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/alcohol-related-deaths-in-the-united-kingdom/2012/stb---alcohol-related-deaths-in-the-united-kingdom--registered-in-2012.html#tab-Registration-Delays 
		
	
	Box 1, alcohol-related deaths were defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes in the table below:
	
		
			 Description ICD 10 codes 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 
			 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G31.2 
			 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 
			 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 
			 Alcoholic liver disease K70 
			 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 
			 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver K74 excluding K74.3-K74.5 
			 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 
			 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 
			 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 228W, on billing, what the value is of the sums being claimed by outstanding creditors at 31 May 2014.

Francis Maude: The value of sums being claimed by non-government creditors at 31 May 2014, can be found in the following table. All unpaid invoices are in dispute.
	
		
			 Number of days unpaid Value (£) 
			 45 - 59 120,891.87 
			 60-74 293,868.79 
			 75 and over 334,974.27

Construction

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what security standards his Department mandates with Level 2 Building Information Modelling;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the cost to industry of his Department's requirement for Level 2 Building Information Modelling.

Francis Maude: Building Information Modelling Level 2 operates alongside well-established industry standards such as ISO27001. Departments may specify additional security requirements as appropriate.
	Industry has responded positively to the introduction of Building Information Modelling Level 2, which represents the construction sector response to the Government’s “Digital by Default” initiative.
	BIM does not mandate the use of any specific software or hardware and supports innovation through its use of open standards. For SMEs BIM levels the playing field, allowing them to make their products immediately accessible to a global market, using freely-available tools.
	BIM represents an opportunity for UK industry to increase efficiency, its know-how and exports, thereby continuing its significant global presence in construction design and delivery.

Cybercrime

Steve Reed: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made by the UK Computer Emergency Response Team since its launch on 31 March 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Cyber Security is one of the Government’s top four security priorities. CERT-UK is working closely with partners across industry, Government, academia and internationally, to enhance the UK’s ability to prepare for and manage national cyber security incidents. It collaborates with law enforcement colleagues to support campaigns aimed at combating cyber-crime and cyber fraud.

Vetting

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many staff working (a) at No. 10 Downing Street and (b) for the Prime Minister (i) have been allowed to attend National Security Council meetings and (ii) had access to Top Secret meetings or documents without being required to have had a security vetting, since May 2010;
	(2)  how many people working (a) at No. 10 Downing Street and (b) on the Prime Minister's staff since May 2010 have not been required to undergo security vetting; how many such staff have undergone security vetting; and what the job titles and responsibilities are of all such staff.

Francis Maude: Attendance at internal meetings is not normally disclosed.
	It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment about staff subject to national security vetting.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many creditors remained unpaid by his Department on 1 June 2014; and of those, how many had been unpaid for (a) 45 days, (b) 60 days, (c) 75 days and (d) more than 76 days.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has a cross-government target of paying 80% of invoices within five days of receipt. In 2013-14, we paid 84% of invoices within that target.
	As of 1 June 2014, there was just one outstanding creditor unpaid, in each case, for (a) 45-59 days, (b) 60-75 days and (c) over 76 days.
	There were a further 24 outstanding creditors of shorter durations.
	To place this in context, in 2013-14, my Department paid 11,937 invoices.

Cemeteries: Planning Permission

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has published for the use of local authorities in determining planning permission applications for the creation of cemeteries.

Nicholas Boles: In March, we published new planning guidance, which local planning authorities can use when determining planning applications. It explains that planning applications are considered on their own merits and, by law, must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The ‘Open space, sports and recreation facilities’ section of the guidance addresses provision of open spaces of public value.
	More broadly, separate to the planning system, the underlying statutory duties for local (burial) authorities are outlined in the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977. The associated guidance is overseen by the Ministry for Justice, and is available at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/burials-and-coroners/burial-ground-managers.pdf

Coastal Communities Fund

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether levels of poverty and deprivation in coastal towns are considered by his Department when making grants from the Coastal Communities Fund.

Brandon Lewis: Grant applicants submitting bids to the Coastal Communities Fund are expected to demonstrate the need for their project, which can include levels of poverty and deprivation in their area. This information is one of a range of factors that are taken into account in the assessment of grant applications. However, the Fund is not specifically targeted on deprived coastal towns. Its aim is to support jobs and growth in coastal communities across the United Kingdom where projects can best exploit local assets and opportunities to unlock their growth potential. In addition to demonstrating need, applications to the Fund must be clearly linked to an economic opportunity to create and safeguard jobs within the coastal community. Coastal flooding and erosion risk management and repair are also priorities for grant aid where proposed works support economic development.

Coastal Communities Fund

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants have been given by the Coastal Communities Fund to date; which town, county and parliamentary constituency received each such grant; and what the size and purpose of each grant was.

Kris Hopkins: The Coastal Communities Fund supports economic growth and jobs in coastal communities across the United Kingdom. We have awarded a total of 104 grants under the Fund to date in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at a total value of £53.6 million. A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving the details requested for all 104 grants.
	Decisions on grant awards in England are taken by Government Ministers. In Wales and Northern Ireland grant awards are taken by panels involving officials from the BIG Lottery Fund and devolved Administrations, and in Scotland by independently appointed panels.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department provided to billing authorities for council tax support schemes in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

Brandon Lewis: The Government provided £3.3 billion to local authorities for localised council tax support in 2013-14 and has made available the same amount in 2014-15.

Council Tax Reduction Schemes

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the localisation of council tax support on the operation and activities of parish and town councils;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that council tax support funding is passed on from billing authorities to parish and town councils in 2014-15.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 19-21WS, which sets out clearly the Government’s intention that the element of localised council tax support funding provided to local authorities which reflects reductions in town and parish tax bases should be passed down to those councils.
	I additionally wrote to Leaders of billing authorities on this issue on 6 January and 21 February 2014.
	The design and management of council tax support schemes is a local matter, and it is for local councils to work together to ensure that any relevant impacts are understood and taken into account.

Disciplinary Proceedings

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what proportion of staff within his Department who have been subject to formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British;
	(2)  what proportion of staff within his Department who have been dismissed following formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.

Brandon Lewis: It is not possible to provide definitive or meaningful percentages, as (a) not all staff declare their ethnicity, (b) due to the manner in which white ethnicity data is self-reported by staff , and (c) the sample sizes are so small as to be statistically misleading when comparing years.

Fire Services

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of how many pumps were available in each fire and rescue authority (a) during periods of Fire Brigades Union strike action in 2013-14 and (b) on comparable non-strike days in the same period.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 409-410W.

Fire Services: Pensions

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to carry out further consultations on changes to firefighter pensions in order to reach a settlement to the dispute on this issue.

Brandon Lewis: On 23 May 2014 we published a second consultation on the draft regulations to implement the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015. Under the scheme design a firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full career aged 60 will get a £19,000 a year pension. The Department will carry out further consultations during 2014 on the governance and transitional arrangements for the firefighter pension reforms. I do not intend to consult again on the draft regulations on which I am currently consulting. The Fire Brigades Union should engage in the current formal consultation process rather than pursuing unnecessary industrial action. The consultation can be found at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-regulations-to-introduce-a-new-firefighters-pension-scheme-from-april-2015
	and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Fire Services: Pensions

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's publication of work carried out by the Government Actuary's Department Costings and Correspondence on 12 June 2014, what plans he has to bring forward new proposals based on options set out in that document negotiations on firefighters' pensions.

Brandon Lewis: As set out in my response to the hon. Member of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 131W, we are currently consulting on draft regulations to implement the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 and this consultation concludes on 4 July 2014. The Department will consider all the responses received to that consultation and final decisions will subsequently be taken on the design of the scheme to be implemented. It is open to the Fire Brigades Union, or any other interested party, to respond to the consultation in a way that builds on the costings carried out on behalf of the Union by the Government Actuary’s Department. However, it would be premature to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation.

Hedges and Ditches

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the effectiveness of Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the scope of these provisions to include complaints on high hedges.

Nicholas Boles: Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (‘High hedges’) addresses private disputes about tall evergreen hedges adversely affecting neighbouring homes and gardens. We have no current plans to undertake a specific review of this part of the 2003 Act.

Parish Councils

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to make parish and town councils aware of the general power of competence in the Localism Act 2011.

Brandon Lewis: We are proud of our parish and town councils and the role they play in transforming public services. Any parish or town council can take steps to become eligible to use the general power of competence. When the general power of competence was commenced in February 2012 the Government produced guidance on using the power to hold prayers as part of the formal business at council meetings and wrote to the Society of Local Council Clerks. In July 2013, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), addressed the Local Government Association/National Association of Local Councils conference on the general power of competence, encouraging all councils to use the power innovatively without looking to Whitehall for permission.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/general-power-of-competence-speech
	We have worked with the National Association of Local Councils to update the mandatory training module required for clerks to be qualified, as part of eligibility criteria for parish councils to be able to use the general power of competence.

Parking

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library the impact assessment his Department prepared alongside its response to the consultation on local authority parking.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has recently published the response to the consultation, which outlines the broad series of policies to tackle unreasonable and unfair parking enforcement, support local shops and reverse the Labour Government’s war on the motorist.
	We will assess in due course whether an Impact Assessment is required for the implementation of any of the specific measures, in line with the prevailing HM Government guidance on Impact Assessments.

Parking

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on permitting motorists to park briefly on double yellow lines, single yellow lines or loading bays; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: In December, our consultation on parking asked for comments on the scope for introducing new grace periods for parking, including what areas it should apply to. In the recently published Government response to the consultation, we announced we will introduce a mandatory 10 minute free period (a) at the end of paid-for on-street parking, (b) at the end of free on-street parking, and (c) extend the same grace period to local authority off-street parking.
	This measure will support local shops and stop shoppers being penalised for returning to their car a few minutes late. This Government recognises that if parking on local high streets and shopping parades is made too difficult, shoppers will merely drive to out of town superstores or just shop online. Our position is in stark contrast to the Labour Government which actively encouraged councils to hike parking charges, cut the number of car parking spaces and adopt aggressive parking enforcement.

Parking Offences: Appeals

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the potential additional cost to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal Appeals Service if a 25 per cent discount on the full price of their parking ticket is given to motorists who lose an appeal against that parking ticket at tribunal;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the additional cost of additional appeals to the Parking Traffic Appeals Service if a 25 per cent discount is given to motorists who lose an appeal at tribunal against the issue of a parking ticket.

Brandon Lewis: As recommended by the Transport Select Committee (Local authority parking enforcement, HC 118, October 2013), the Government intends to work in partnership with a local authority to assess introducing a 25% discount to motorists who lose an appeal at tribunal level. This trial will allow us to evaluate the impacts, before rolling out the policy nationally.
	The underlying policy rationale is the current lack of any discount at an appeal stage (but with a discount operating if the driver does not appeal) acts as a disincentive for drivers with genuine cases to appeal. I would remind the right hon. Member that parking fines are a quasi-judicial process, not a source of revenue for councils. This Government believes in fairness, in contrast to the Labour Government which actively told councils to adopt aggressive parking enforcement practices.

Queen's Park Community Council

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the performance of Queen's Park Community Council since its establishment on 1 April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: We have not made an assessment of the performance of the new Queen’s Park Community Council since its establishment on 1 April 2014. The new council had its first elections on 22 May 2014 and it is therefore still very early in the life of the council. Unlike the last Labour Government, we do not micro-manage the performance of councils.

Voluntary Organisations

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the total value of (a) public service contracts and (b) grants that were awarded by local authorities to voluntary sector organisations in the last year for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 30 June 2014
	: Our most recent estimates suggest that local authorities in England gave £1.1 billion in grants to voluntary bodies in 2012-13. A further £23.9 billion was spent on public service contracts, which would include those awarded to both voluntary and private sector bodies (a breakdown between the two is not available). These figures are based on updated methodology and returns, and are not comparative to the previous figures supplied to my hon. Friend.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government against what criteria he will consider the recovery of an appeal against the refusal of an application for planning permission for a wind turbine.

Kris Hopkins: I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the written ministerial statement of 9 April 2014, Official Report, columns 12-13WS.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he will answer question 200690 tabled by the hon. Member for Leeds Central on 13 June 2014.

Kris Hopkins: Question 200690 was answered on 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 270W.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 681W, on electoral register, how many students were registered to vote as a result of the cross-referencing of data from the Student Loans Company in the data matching pilots.

Gary Streeter: The Commission informs me that in total, across the two separate pilot schemes which the Commission evaluated, 37 new electors were added to the registers, as a result of Student Loans Company data, in the particular areas undertaking the data mining pilots.

Electoral Register: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the answer of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 711W, on electoral register, if the Electoral Commission will make it its policy to collect data on the number and percentage of attainers registered to vote.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) collect the number of attainers on the registers published following each annual canvass.
	The ONS also publishes population estimates by single year of age which make it possible to calculate rough percentages of attainers registered. However, these proportions are approximations as the number for attainers on the register is likely to include some duplicate entries and the population estimates will include people who are ineligible to register to vote.
	The Electoral Commission has access to this data and therefore informs me that it currently has no plans to collect information itself on the number and percentage of attainers registered to vote each year. The Commission does, however, periodically produce research on the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers, which includes information on attainers. The next of these reports is expected to be published in July.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Performance Appraisal

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by the Government Equalities Office received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Helen Grant: The table sets out the percentage of employees, within each performance category, who have declared a disability, and the percentage of all other staff in each performance category for the 2013-14 reporting year for assessments received to date. The percentage of all other staff includes staff who have either explicitly declared that they do not have a disability, have chosen the ‘prefer not to say’ option, or have not responded to the question at all.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Excellent Good Must improve 
			 Percentage of employees who have declared a disability in each performance rating 0 4.2 8.3 
			 Percentage of all other staff employed in each performance rating 33.3 45.8 8.3 
		
	
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) takes seriously its obligations to collect diversity data as required by the Equality Act 2010. All staff have been asked to provide personal diversity data to be held anonymously, and we continue to encourage increased declaration by staff. As such these figures will not be fully representative of work force diversity.